h
o
p
e
When we first moved on to our property, I had this idea that I could just stick fruit and nut trees hither and yon and in a few years we would be living in Eden.
I planted special Florida low chill apples like Anna and Ein Sheimer. The deer ate every bud and twig. Then to rub it in, the bucks scraped the bark off as they removed the velvet from their antlers.
I planted peach trees. The peach tree borers killed them the first year.
I bought 2 Dunstan chestnuts and planted them near my neighbors fence in a sunny spot. The deer must have thought they were apple trees. Sigh...
I planted a pear tree, fenced around it, and it survived to grow above deer nibble height. Success.
Emboldened, I planted a mullberry to attract birds, fenced it too close to the trunk, and the deer reached through and ate it.
We jokingly began calling our place, "HELL FARM". Surely, this was where plants were sent as punishment for wrong doings.
Last week, in an act of stubborn defiance, I bought a new Dunstan Chestnut. It's still in the pot.
I have to find just the right spot, sunny and close enough to the house so that the deer will be less likely to brave the dogs for a nibble.
I hate to take it out of the pot and put it in our ground.
It seems like such a nice little tree.
11 comments:
Do any reporting obligations come with that chestnut? I looked into getting some since they would grow well among my oaks, but at least one nursery I corresponded with wanted me to keep a log and make periodic reports.
Pablo,
No, this is a pick up item at HD. The actual nursery that produces these just happens to be in a neighboring county. I went there for my first (now dead) chestnuts.
Good luck to that sweet little chestnut. I'm sending my best "live long and prosper" wishes all the way to Florida. Keep us posted.
So that's why we have no chestnuts on Chestnut Ridge.
Next on the agenda: construction of a big fence all aroudn the little tree to protect it from the deer and whatnot!
I lost a few apples and maples to borers, just about broke my heart, since i'd raised them from saplings. Also lost a gorgeous redbud tree to idiot tenants. I should have taken them to court on the spot, but I don't think the courts would have listened to such an emotional plea. lol.
I've been trying to catch up on your site, congrats on getting the carpets up! Wait'll you see just HOW MUCH HAIR a single lab really does have; it'll show up on your nice laminate floors, so much of it that you can actually make a pillow out of it. You have two dogs, right? (snicker).
hint: swifter dry cloths, they glide right over the floor and get the dog hair and dust up in a nanosecond.
Believe me, I know whereof I speak...(frowning at my floors, which are full of white hair as I type this comment, lol).
The post about bush whacking brought back memories too. I've got to write about that one someday. Boy, our families have so much in common!
RD,
As a major fan of Star Trek (old school...Kirk and Spock) let me say thank you for the Vulcan chestnut tree goodwill.
Macbean,
Deer, blight...poor chestnuts.
Laura,
You're right, I have to add baby tree fence to the list. As for dog hair...I actually have 3 lab/golden crosses so we have ton of dog hair potential. They are mostly porch pups, but even when they come in for some spoiling there is an amazing amount of hair left behind. I appreciate the swiffer tip, I used them to wipe sanding dust off the walls.
I think sometimes our families are in parallel universes :)
DPR,
Good idea, my barbecue grill is next to the range!
Good luck. So far haven't had many problems with hooved critters here, but then again I haven't tried to plant fruit trees. I know they're there.
Deb.
I didn't mention how they raided the veggie garden and ate the peas and beans down to the roots. It's almost like they think they were here first...
"Deermeat roasting on the open fire"...
Deer. Bah!
Hick,
Mammals of Mass Destruction. If they just weren't so endearing...
Post a Comment