Tree Down

A tree went down in our little forest and we actually heard it fall.  A quick snap followed by a brushing noise just as I walked by on the sidewalk.

Why did this happen?  The tree seemed fine right up until that moment and it's been a good year for trees with plenty of rain.



First thing first.  As it toppled the top branches snagged on Red Tip Photinia and the heavy tree trunk was hovering over the path to the gate so we needed to cut it down safely.

A little investigation of the remaining stump revealed that one side has rotted.  On closer inspection there was charring at the break and a few more charred spots along the trunk.  Lightning.  Even though the live oak tree was very close to the house and it was not even the tallest tree among others nearby.  Live oaks often grow sideways looking for light creating bends and crooks in their trunks.  Lightning damage was most severe at the bend in the tree about six feet above ground, and that's where it broke off, apparently many months after the event.

A few more chainsaw cuts...which reveal the tree died on one side but not the other.

And it's off to the woodpile.

I'll miss it.  In this before photo it's the tree to the left of the bench is now missing.



The area looks more open and more light gets through the office window.  I'm not sure I like that.  At this point it feels more like something is missing.  Such a different view now.

Are you wondering what happened to the bench?  A few days before the tree fell we moved it to protect newly planted sedge from deer, not as a place to sit.  Deer love making tracks through soft new soil and uprooting new plants so this is just one of our tricks to protect plants.

Just another day in the garden....it's always something.

Winter Walk-Off 2013

It's time for the Winter Walk-off sponsored by Les at A Tidewater Gardener.  Last year I gave the walk-off a try and the resulting photos were so boring I didn't even post them.  So you wanna see my neighborhood?  Yes? No?  Either way you're going to see it this year.

The Winter Walk-off 2013 rules are

On your own two feet, leave the house and share what can be seen within walking (or biking) distance of your home (if you want to drive to your walk that's OK too).  Your post does not have to be about gardening or a travelogue, unless you want it to be.  Maybe instead you will find some unusual patterns, interesting shadows, signs of spring, a favorite restaurant or shop, questionable landscaping or local eyesores.  Whatever, just keep your eyes and mind open, be creative and have fun, but don't show anything from your own garden.

I considered posting one of my River Walk adventures instead.  After all, Les said we could drive to our walk.  That's too easy though and I really want to show you my own neighborhood.  There are many special things that make it one of the more desirable areas of the city:  the live oak trees chief among them. They set the backdrop for a wide variety of gardening and landscaping options.  But among the challenges are the lack of sidewalks and deep set-backs for the houses mixed with a very laid-back approach to yard maintenance.

So here we go on a walk around the 'hood.  Of course I picked trash day and brush pick-up week to do this so the photography would be more fun!

Boorrring!  This isn't my street, but a nearby one just like it.  I actually forgot to get a picture of my street.



Let's keep going, there are some fun things to see along the way.  I promise.

Ball moss begone!

To de-moss or not to de-moss, that is the question.

It's not really moss, it's Tillandsia recurvata and it clings to the live oaks in our area.  Ball moss doesn't directly harm the trees but it does accumulate and looks ugly.  When it takes over a tree it can block the light causing early demise of lower limbs and can partially block the view.  But mostly it just looks ugly.
 

To Her Majesty the Queen!

Just as Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee gets underway in England, this Agave Victoriae-reginae bloom has arrived as if to propose a toast to Queen Victoria's great-great granddaughter.

  
She's a delicate beauty and over ten feet tall

I've been watching this agave for a while. She's across the street from Ragna's house and I check in whenever I visit.

April 11, 2012

April 27, 2012

And yesterday May 31

Yes that is an American flag there.  We also congratulate Queen on her 60 years on the throne.  I have been fascinated by Queen Elizabeth II since I read her biography many years ago.  Her story is a special one of devotion to duty, especially in WWII when she drove an ambulance in London during the last days of the war.  Growing up the images of the young queen in a world of men also made a positive impression on me.  Later, during my husband's military career, it was our pleasure to raise our glasses in a toast to her on a number formal occasions where members of her armed forces were present.

The proper response to the proposed toast in the title?

Simply raise the glass and say "The Queen"