I called on Bob, the gardener who did our landscaping last year, to rescue my little tree. So, here it is, properly staked. Please don't tell the MM about my pathetic attempt with those bits of wood and string. He says I can only tie 'picky knots' which is probably why the tree fell over again yesterday. Bob says I'll have to wait to see if the roots were damaged, so there is still a chance I may lose the tree. For the moment, though, it can withstand the wind and rain which is just as well because I may be needing all the timber I can find soon to build me an ark.
We all need something/someone to lean once in a while. Good luck with your tree.
ReplyDeleteWe have a small rose of sharon and a young river oak tethered to the fence in an effort to straighten them up and fly right.
If you tolerate pictures of visitors' flora and fauna, I'll send some along?
I'd love to see them, erp. I'm a novice gardener, only taking a real interest since I retired last year. I don't have the confidence to do much in the actual garden, so I still hire a maintenance gardener, but I'm experimenting with patio pots and my potager. My colleagues bought me a garden bench when I retired and the kids gave me a bird bath and bee boxes, so I sit on my bench and watch all my lovely visitors. Haven't done much sitting out since April this year, though, because of the weather.
ReplyDeleteIt's drizzly today and we're off the see "Ratatouille," so I'll take some photos in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI had pretty good luck with flower gardens when we lived up north, but here in Florida, things are quite different -- a far larger variety of insect and other plagues.
My intention was to have an English Garden in the small space behind the porch, but a series of high-priced "professionals" did no better than our own feeble efforts. Nothing worked, so now we just let nature throw up whatever she wants and use potted plants which we move in and out of the sun as required.
The rose of sharon (see my Blogger ID) has only bloomed once in 15 years. If you, like me, don't believe in coincidence, click here.
Eerie indeed!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the pictures. Here, in the South West of England, we get lots of rain and very little cold weather so I think almost anything will grow. I love the old-fashioned cottage garden flowers best.
If your little tree is a hornbeam, it is set to grow to 30m! I do not know how the roots grow, but a tree that size will need a pretty robust rootball. How much do you need your garage? You can control the size by coppicing. Maybe you need to have another word with your professional! Hornbeams have pretty catkins.
ReplyDeleteIf you dont cut your herbs they will not grow well. Jn15;2.
Hi Crinny, Thanks for the tips. I'm not sure what the tree is but I looked through all the books I could find and the leaves resemble hornbeam. Until a few weeks ago there was enormous acanthus growing in front of it so it was virtually invisible. Unfortunately the acanthus developed terminal mildew and I think the tree lost its cover just as the rains came. I have a feeling this is a shoot that has grown from a tree that was cut down many years before we came to live here, you can see the stump next to it.
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to feel like a real gardener having discussions like this online!
If you have a bit of space with plants in it and you tender them with as much love as you can, you're a gardener.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right about the tree growing from the stump. It could be a hazel. Anyhow, I always feel that if something struggles to survive as this little trees has, it deservre to live. Have a word with Bob about how to keep it to a managable size.
Just now the sun is shining and I am cheered.
Here are the pictures of the small oak and the leaning rose of sharon.
ReplyDeleteClick here for some more pictures.
Sorry about that link. Click here and here for pictures of the beach and the ailing trees.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are superb, erp. Thank you. Your Bunker looks even more arcadian than Devon.
ReplyDeleteCrinny: will do, thanks.
ReplyDeleteArcadian isn't a word that comes to mind when I look around my yard, but I'm glad you liked the pictures.
ReplyDeleteCrinny: the gardener confirms it is a hazel and will keep it under control. Right, as always!
ReplyDelete