Anyway, I digress. About eight years ago this little tree effectively died . No buds, no new leaves. I decided to use it as a bird feeding station on which we could hang seed or suet ball containers. A few of the outermost branches were sawn off.
Then one day, I had the bright idea of painting the dead tree white with some leftover masonry paint. Forty minutes later it was done.
Over the next six years I repainted the tree twice. It was an odd sight really but it seemed popular with various bird species as they came to feast on the bird food that was hanging there like regulars at a branch (!) of McDonalds.
Then on Monday of this week, Shirley was working by our little greenhouse when suddenly she heard a crash. It was a still afternoon but the staghorn sumac tree had chosen that particular moment to keel over.
The next day I went out to inspect the scene, expecting to have to saw the upper part of the tree from its trunk.However, there was no need for that. I was easily able to yank the tree from the ground. The base was pretty rotten. I left it in the middle of our lawn - like a strange avant garde sculpture or something.
In other exciting Yorkshire Pudding news... Today I gathered up five wheelbarrow loads of fallen leaves. Then I put them in a big builders' sack which I covered over and I will leave them there to rot down into nutritious leaf mould which will be "cooked" in about a year's time.
Not a real sign. http://www.redkid.net/generator/bigboy/
ReplyDeleteYou get me Damselfly! Ouch!
DeleteHopefully the white paint wont' be toxic to the birds who were pecking it.
ReplyDeleteWell the paint is approved for use on houses and walls so I guess it is all right.
DeleteI went out to rake leaves today and after rain and some wind, it looks like I did NOTHING. That tree is messy!
ReplyDeleteAlways wise to rake leaves when the day is still Margaret.
DeleteThose sheep look real at first glance. I suppose it's good that the tree didn't hit anyone and the rotting wood is good for the environment. My leaves are piled up on my garden, it's supposed to snow again tonight.
ReplyDeleteWell, Big boy says it the way it is. I thought the end of your story would be that you found new shoots in the old tree.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Shirley growing in the greenhouse?
ReplyDeleteI know the sign isn't real, but a boy can dream!
ReplyDeleteThe little sheep looks directly at the fallen tree, with the curiosity of a child, while his Mum is calmly munching away on the grass... she's seen it all before, and as long as she knows her child is safe, she's not bothered.
ReplyDeleteI hope you left some leaves on the ground under shrubs and bushes, so that small animals have a hiding place in the coming cold months.
Sad to lose a still useful tree. I tried the leaves-in-a-bag once and ended up with a bag os stinking slime. I never tried again, stayed with the open compost heap turned twice a year with garden forks. They grew lots of lovely potatoes and several tomato plants too. I dream of having that much space again one day, but truthfully I think after all this time it may be too much for me.
ReplyDeleteDid you paint the tree at some point in the colours of the Ukrainian flag?
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased, given your health issues, that you are planning for the future, when the leaves have turned to compost.
I bet Big Boy isn't in Texas, probably California.
Oh yes, there was an article in todays electric newspaper about your Root mate. I read it, but it sank in rather like all I've heard about the Black Hole.
ReplyDeleteIm glad the birds found some grubs. Im also glad it didnt fall on Shirley. Have fun with the clean up 😅
ReplyDeleteIm glad the birds found some grubs. Im also glad it didnt fall on Shirley. Have fun with the clean up 😅
ReplyDeleteIf you move it to one side, out of the way, it will become a funky fungi forest.
ReplyDeleteAnd now feeding the birds in a different way.
ReplyDeleteI like the sheep. They look so at home.
ReplyDeleteThe birds will miss their feeding station, so I hope you have somewhere new to use.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, the dead tree didn't fall on your Shirley!
ReplyDelete