First let me remind you that it seems there is always something in a pot on our porch that awaits planting, somewhere. And, I'll share with you that it drives me crazy - mostly, because I don't want to chance losing whatever it is that needs planting....which brings me to another planting accomplishment this weekend.
Our nature loving son, Jacob, kindly started some Osage Orange trees: http://www.trees-online.com/types_of_trees/osage_orange.shtml in a pot and gave us three to plant somewhere on the farm. He advised not to plant them anywhere too close, as they grow large and have lots of sticker branches!!! He also advised me on how much to water, etc.......so, that's what I've been doing and wondering, where do you plant something like this? Solution, ask my husband - let him decide. I did that and he told me he would have to think about it. I know his thoughts lately are on the 8 X 12 Chicken Coop he is building - yep, we are going to have chickens again - but that's another post...stay tuned for that one!!
Anyway, it's supposed to rain the next few days or so and I really wanted to get these planted prior to that to give them a better chance of survival. So, I asked him again and he finally said that they would probably work good up at the fence line on the top of the ridge above the pond. O....K....., I guess I can do that.....now don't get me wrong, he wasn't telling me this so that I would go plant them up on that ridge (oh maybe he was).....but, that's all it took. My mind started clicking, thinking, ok - he's headed to the grocery store -wonder if I can lug these pots, a shovel, a gallon of water and myself up on that ridge. I think I can.........so, that's what I did. I put the three pots in a plastic crate and cradled that on one side with the shovel & gallon of water on the other and off I went. From the pictures, it doesn't look that far or that steep - but let me assure you - looks are sometimes deceiving.......
Off I went - it was clouding up a little, but I knew the rain wasn't supposed to head in until later in the evening - I was dressed appropriately, had a warm jacket on, grabbed my work gloves and lugged everything up in one trip. Whew - there is no easy way up to the top - the best way is to cross the dam of the large pond, go through the woods, following the deer path, trying NOT to slip down the slight slope into the pond, and then continue up through the high grasses to the top.
I get up there, look around and finally decide where I want to plant them........and start digging. Fortunately, the dirt up there is great and digging wasn't that bad - except I couldn't find my work gloves. I had thrown the jacket off - way too hot - and thought - well, it's too far down to go back and get the gloves, so just do it. Gee, I only got stuck once and actually avoided touching that slimy worm that was in one of the dug holes - really, I could have gone fishing with it!!! So, after getting all three planted, packed down and watered, I thought - darn, I didn't bring anything to put around them so that whoever is around won't run them over, cut them down, etc.
The only solution was to hike it back down and gather something to solve that problem. So, I pick up the jacket, tie it around my waste and what do I spot in the pocket - MY GLOVES - oh well........I finally make it back to the garage - put everything up - and then proceed to get bright yarn (a knitter at heart), scissors (yes, I walked back up that hill & made sure they were point down) and before heading back up - went into the field that has some larger fruit trees and proceeded to remove the plastic black pipe from the bottom of these trees - they are way past needed protection from the mower and started back across the dam....well, you know the way by now.
So, now there are three Osage Orange trees up on the top of the ridge - protected for when Chaz has the tractor up in that area and marked with bright flourescent yarn for identification. I feel pretty good!!! Thought I would take a picture while up there so you can get the feel of the view - would be a great place for a bench!
P.S. Check out our small bed of lettuce that we'll be harvesting today to accompany Chaz's Best In The World Meatballs and Spaghetti!!
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