Monday, May 17, 2010

The Hazards Of Shade Gardening

It is not uncommon for that nice woodland shade to hit the ground with a thud.



The Black Cherry trees, Prunus serotina are losing their heads in all the heavy rain.



This is the third and largest Black Cherry log from a third tree to fall from the sky since the 8th of May. This one mangled a few rhododendrons and kalmias. I am tired of cutting up and hauling the tops of cherry trees out of the garden.



Funny how I hear trees groan and crash to the ground off in the distance quite often and I did not hear a single one of these logs fall. I discover them.



Each fallen log means a little more sun will reach the forest floor. Sun means more choices of plants will grow. There is always a bright side of things.



The cozy cabin's floor is emptied, swept and vacuumed. It is ready for the tile backer board to be installed. I was in there cleaning during the first mega wicked thunderstorm and thought I heard a crash then.



I went back today to finish vacuuming and to plant the now disconnected rooted rhododendron stems I found while cleaning up the Black Cherry mess and discovered the source of the crash I heard in that storm. A big log had come off a maple tree in the forest behind the cabin.



My stain color is cherry. And would you believe that Black Locust, half of a tree log, stuck in another tree since February or something above the apple is still there, stuck. Trees tops are falling left and right and that Black Locust is still there holding on with one thin branch.



My new baby rhododendrons are blooming and I have planted bamboo and Calycanthus floridus recently. This whole area has trees tagged for removal and I can't stop myself from planting things.



I'd like to think I can make a tree fall where I want it to fall when I get around to getting a functioning chainsaw. I just think these trees have a mind and force of their own sometimes.

5 comments:

chuck b. said...

That's too funny about the black locust log suspended by a thread while the cherries are dropping surprise limbs. I guess as long as none of the logs are slated to fall on the cozy cabin, it's all good. More sun is good.

Anonymous said...

Yes, living in the woods has its hazards. Last year a sour gum cracked off in a storm and split my brand new yak rhodie in half. One half has survived although I worry about its abraded bark. Mother Nature both gives and takes away.....the cabin is looking great!

bev

Randy Emmitt said...

Well think about the benefits of those cherry trees, they host the Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and red-spotted Purple butterflies in your gardens. Shame so many have fallen on your garden though.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It is amazing how brittle Azaleas are. I have walked by an azalea and snapped off a limb. I didn't know you could stick their limbs into the ground and get them to grow. It is a little scary how the big limbs can come down. They could sure give you a headache. The cabin is looking good. It is an art to be able to lay a tree down right where you want it to fall. I hope you are feeling very artistic when you decide to fell the unwanted trees. The cozy cabin is looking good.

Lola said...

Amazing about the Cherry trees. They must be very soft wood. That Black Locust may be there till the cows come home. Can't imagine it still is hanging around. I hope when it decides to do something it won't hurt the apple tree.