What have you done today in the Garden?

How many of you are Dendrophiles? I am….and I will explain that later.

Ok I have a lil Rant… today …apologize for going on . But maybe this will help someone else. Well maybe not using my example to force trespassers from private property.

Well.. I could be in big trouble. Today I told the county tree trimmers hired by the Electrical company to get the blank off my property, while they were walking up onto my property. Why…Two years ago they came up on my property approximately 150 feet up my driveway under my entry arch with their equipment-cherry pickers and hacked off and topped rare trees I planted from seedlings and left others looking side swiped and lopsided forever. Whole sides of trees are gone forever. They didn’t need to take the whole sides of tree off, partial area near the one wire would be acceptable. Even chopped off limbs 15-20 feet below the elec wire which was to provide electricity to my home. This is a small one lane road for only 8 residents up onto my driveway.
This was not the highway wild trees threatening whole towns the trimmers only have barely enough knowledge for trimming back as much as possible.

I am still broken hearted…Protecting12 rare trees for years in my small tree collection from insects as well as underground critters, weather conditions , and I trimmed them properly as well as keeping them watered during droughts and extreme heat for years is a full time job.

I am a person who loves trees and passionate about the many I grew from seeds and seedlings. I learned a new word for someone who loves trees and YES…I finally got to the word I asked about in the very first sentence of this rant. OK…here we are and why I am a…. Dendrophile …the definition of a person who loves trees. So if you are a Dendrophile be proud and hug the trees you have left. I have watched lumber companies come to old growth forests over 200 year old trees cut down for profit and all the connections around the old growth tree limbs ,branches and under them all disappeared and lost rare orchids, trilliums and is now nothing but weeds. I really miss riding my horses thru those huge old growth redwood trees were so beautiful and awe-inspiring .something way more bigger than I could ever imagine.

I never received any compensation for the thousands of dollars lost due to their careless handling of scalpers crossing over the line onto my driveway, my home, in my garden… these were not trees that grow wild on the side of a main highway.. these are rare trees I grew in a well established garden with under story plants. It’s really bare space now with scalped trees looking as if they have been thru a hurricane. Really ugly…

I am still really unhappy about all the damages they caused so recklessly without even a thought . They wanted to clear the one electrical wire that came several hundred feet up my driveway thru my garden to the home. Every thing planted under all the trees they trimmed were shade plants and I lost thousands of dollars from the loss of every shade plant, shrubs, bulbs. It was obvious that the trees were no threat for contacting any electrical wires. Over the years I have hired private companies to trim the trees in my whole garden. 3 acres. The electrical wire from across the street was clearly clear of any trees . They drove up my driveway without my consent, knowledge or permission and tortured my trees. Also trampled plants and damaged several soaker hoses and left tree trunk chunks, limbs , and a huge mess behind. Legally they have no right on my property without my permission. The legality for trimming trees is printed online. I called and complained they sent someone out and said they would get back to me. Lalala….Never heard back…I’m still trying to let it go….

So today I reminded them that they cannot trespass in a forceful angry voice with 5 dogs by my side and 3 horses looking on…They have no idea how much time and years went into caring for the trees and shrubs they literally killed by trimming the trees exposing the hot summer sun onto hundreds of dollars of shade loving plants . Talk about a conscience lack of respect for property, when they actually think have the power to damage property. Not true… I’m not done with this yet….

 

So sorry @Pacnorwest for that terrible disappointment. It's very hard and sad to see people doing such destructive and careless things. I hope you can get some peace of mind about that.

 

I didn't do anything today outside in the garden. Tomorrow...

I did get news, my new David Austin roses are in Texas now. One is yellow, but it's not "The Yellow Rose Of Texas".




I wonder what route they are taking. I wouldn't want those truck drivers in the wildfire areas, just to haul their goods.

The roses I ordered were all bare root, all should have good scent.

Boscobel( Coral Pink, medium - strong Myrrh scent), Bring Me Sunshine (Yellow, medium - strong Myrrh scent), Darcey Bussell (Dark red, Light-medium fruity scent), and Silas Marner, (light pale pink, medium- strong old rose scent). They will be in containers. I'm trying to have a more scented garden this year.

 

Daniel thank you for your concern and support. Means a lot …sorry about the rant. Just when I think I’m over it the tree trimmers stop by again and pull me back in. It’s like a bad experience that never goes away the reminders I see every day in half my garden. The remnants of hurricane damage.


Maybe this fire map will help.
https://www.weatherbug.com/alerts/fire/tyler-tx-75702
I’m sure all your new roses will arrive safe and sound and there are other routs around the fires. Transit truck drivers are the best.

So sad about so many loosing their homes and suffering from losses due to extreme weather and fire in Texas.
Puts my silly tree loss in perspective with what really matters. Sending blessings to Texas.

 

So sorry to hear that Pacnorwest, but i do remember you saying about it. You've put a lot into your trees and it's very upsetting to see it.
We don't have that problem here all the cables are underground.

 

Daniel good that you're going to get your roses.

 

I did the week's shopping this morning. On my return, I found our David Austin roses had arrived. They're bare root and were in a poly bag so they were quite wet. So I didn't need to soak them. These are the rectangular tubs I mentioned with the raised drain holes. I'm really impressed with them.




The other roses have come along quite a bit in a couple of days.
I really ought to re-paint the pot movers. White was the only colour available when I bought some a few years ago. I spray-painted them to match the others.





The hedgehog feeder is there "just in case."





Even the roses out of favour that live in the "alley of shame" (our drive) that gets little sun are thriving.






Gave the smallest jukebox a bit of a "run out" whilst I was working.
This one.






One or two of the selection buttons were reluctant to "latch," the button bank is controlled by a solenoid switch.

I gave the whole button bank a clean.





This isn't as drastic as it may seem. Just a question of turning it off and spraying the whole bank with switch cleaner. Then working the buttons. Leave it for half an hour then come back and work them again. (with power off they don't latch, so they just move in and out). Then turn it on and try a few selections. "All systems are now go!"

 

Logan thank you for your understanding. Glad your cable is underground. Have wanted to do that, it cost thousands to have it done.
It’s always a daily reminder to look at what was left and lost every day. Hoping the trees would have recovered and bounced back by now .. 2 years later…not happening. It’s like a tractor drive thru a section of the area clearing everything in its path and a hurricane left the trees so unsightly they will never recover. A huge section of the garden is stripped.

Riley your garden is beautiful every season. It’s a special occasion every time I see your projects. It’s an art form to see every single plant is engineered to perform at it greatest form, in sinc with every single season , as best as possible. Inspiring and creative. You make it look so easy. I know it’s a passion for you and a lot of ‘Happy’ fulfilling work. You have designed the outcome to perfection.
So important to listen to music when gardening not only cheers the gardener as we move along, I have also read studies that plants like music too. I listen to music on my iPod thru earphones when gardening…very energetic music keeps the pace moving along.

 

Oh Pac, what a tough story to read. I am with you on this one. I have a thing for trees. They are so important ecologically and aside from that, They are important to you ! Things like this always set my mind to working.

Mate, what you need is a lockable gate at the entrance to your property.
If what these workers are doing is illegal, can you make a case of these incidents?

Well, I hope you can deal with this.

 

Those bins look like they will work nicely. I using a half-barrel look (but not as large) for three of mine.

What varieties are you planting? You probably said, but sometimes my brain is a sieve LOL.

@Pacnorwest I am also a dendrophile. I've planted so many! Their growth amazes me sometimes. When I had evergreens cut diwn for wildfire mitigation, it was a sad moment for me. They were planted too close together and too close to the house, but I still didn't like it. There is consolation that the roses are thriving in that location now.

Today I took the mini roses outside for some real sunlight and breeze. So far, the are thriving.



Some are almost entirely new leaves.



Others are a bit slower, but all look good.

These are meant to be a quick gift, then disposed of. They are bred for that, grown in vast greenhouses under wavelength-shifted LED lights, grown in a medium designed for greenhouse irrigation and misting. I think it's a gamble as to whether they can be "converted" to home use, but it's fun to try.

I added two others, which I haven't repotted yet. Even though Im downsizing my garden somewhat, I still like to play with growing things.

I think one of the most important strategies is to get them out of that fast-drying, light weight growth medium, and into some good quality potting soil.

 

Daniel so sorry the trees by your home needed to be cut down. A leaning experience. I could write a book on all my garden boo boos. And you’re right it was for a good reason. Trees planted to close to a home the roots can cause damage to the foundation and a number of reasons to remove them was a good idea.

Another Dendrophile who loves trees among us , happy to have you join me. That’s a good thing… your knowledge of trees and grafting fruit trees to grow more than one fruit on a single tree was a great read. I learned a lot.
Cheers Daniel… Trees are ‘King’ in our gardens.

 

Looking good there, Daniel. They are looking so good.

 

Today we both went to the lottie and cleaned another flower plot. This sort of task is always more difficult to do than cleaning the veggie quadrants.

 

@Sjoerd, those flower pots will reward you many times over! What will you grow in them?

Today reached 70 F, nice and warm, not too sunny. I set the mini roses and pelargoniums out on the South deck in partial sun and a soft breeze for the afternoon. They look happy. Then inside for the night. Prediction is for below freezing tonight.

Seedlings -

I up-potted the Alstroemeria seedlings. They are growing quickly.



I wonder what colors they will be, and if any will bloom this year?

The Schlumbergeras continue to grow, little by little. I'm guessing they will need a couple of years to reach blooming size. It's interesting to grow them, starting with hand pollination, letting the berry grow, harvesting the seeds, planting the seeds, etc.



I up-potted the first of the peppers - Fresnos and Anaheims. The rest should get done tomorrow, they are big enough.



The silver dollar eucalyptus seedlings look pretty good so far.



The Lemon Bush Eucalyptus have a leaf problem. I don't know why. I'll just continue and see what happens.



The Rudbeckias germinated nicely. These were stratified for six weeks in the fridge. They germinated within a few days of planting.



My David Austin Roses sent me an email. They are now near Los Angeles, and planning to arrive here on Sunday, two days early! So I drilled holes in their containers for drainage.



In theory, the one original hole might have been enough, but I don't think that idea holds water. I like to have a lot of drainage holes.

 

Yes they are @Pacnorwest ! I have planted so many. Favorites so far, Lindens, gingkos, dawn redwood, chestnuts, aspens, but I like the maples, oaks, and all the rest too!