Bent And Creaking

Got out this morning and started some cuttings:  Butterfly Bush...Hydrangea...Lady Banks Rose. I've never been very successful with cuttings but it only cost me a little energy since I already had the pots...soil...and rooting hormone powder.

Relocated some Lemon Balm and mint to around the log planter so it can spread.

Dug up a couple of pieces of Jasmine from the back of my property and planted them in front of this dead Ornamental Cherry so it will climb. I've left that tree for the birds and critters. There was also a sprig of Virginia Creeper with a few roots that came up with the Jasmine so I stuck it in the ground. Might be too small to make it but I've got lots more to relocate.

Relocated two Wild Cherry trees and I'm ashamed to say I wasn't very careful about planting them...just opened the ground with the shovel and stuck them in. Around here they are really prolific so I'm thinking they'll be ok.

I've got to move these roses. They're around my Mom's house that is here on my property. It's become derelict and I hope to have it torn down before fall...so I need to move the shrubs from around it. My Mom was not a gardener but she loved flowers so I planted them for her. Nothing gave her more joy than sitting on her porch watching the birds...especially the humming birds...flit around the flowers. There's a Butterfly Bush...Hydrangea...Nandina...and some others that I've forgotten what they are that will need to be moved also.

I miss the days when I could work the whole day in the yard and feel like a day well spent. My sixty six year old back and knees complain loudly now with just a half days work. It's still a good feeling to end the day with dirt under my nails and well worked muscles...even if I have to hobble off to bed bent and creaking.

Walking With Plant Spirits

I went out this morning and watered all the plant spirits that I've relocated. Some are a little droopy and several of the smaller willows definitely look like they've given up the ghost. I talked to them all and blessed them as I watered them ... hoping they will be happy here.

I took some cuttings from my Rosemary bushes...stripped the bottom leaves...and pushed them into the ground around the little ones that appear to have given up. I know this isn't the usual way to root Rosemary but it benefits from being cut and if it doesn't root it can be in remembrance of the little ones.

This is one of my current reads. This passage resonated strongly with me today:

"Only when the ego is dropped can the voice of Spirit be heard. Most often it is in times of crisis...when our egos are humbled...that we are able to receive intuitive impressions and spiritual knowledge."

It made me wonder if having a blog and sharing my experiences is ego driven and something I should stop doing.

I'll think on that a while....and hope for guidance.

Four Trees And An Update

My Bay Tree is looking like a happy camper! It's doubled in size since I planted it two weeks ago. I'll probably try to keep it in a pot so I can move it to a sheltered place each

winter since it's not really cold hardy in zone 7.

The Elderberry and Red Dogwood cuttings are looking promising. I've had them in water.. trying to root them before planting them outside but I just kinda felt like they would do better in soil so I put a little growth hormone on them and stuck them on the porch to see what happens. This may be one of those live and learn moments.

I relocated two of these cedar trees...more gifts from the feathered ones. Both were in places underneath grown trees where they would have to compete for a little sunshine.

This is a little volunteer Cherry Tree that came up beneath my big one...so I've dug

it up and moved it to the area that I'm trying to rewild.

And this unhappy looking girl is an Oak that was relocated from my woods. I'm hoping she decides she likes it where I put her eventually.

I've still got plenty of dead fall from the recent storm for mulch and I have to say I'm loving the chipper I bought. I'm pretty sure it's already paid for itself.

Now I think I'm ready to put my feet up and stick my nose in a book for the rest of the afternoon....and maybe have an awesome cup of coffee!

Casualties And Crossed Fingers

I was gifted this Sassafras Tree by one of

Earth's creatures...bird..animal...who knows.

I noticed it the other day in the middle of some

briars... being choked by vines. 

After I freed it from the vines I dug it

up and replanted it in the place I'm trying

to rewild. Poor little thing looks all

droopy even though I watered it well

after planting. The ground is pretty

saturated from the recent storm so I'm

hoping it'll perk up.

I also dug up this Winged Elm from

the edge of the woods on the back of

my place. It's probably way bigger than

is good for transplanting....and I'm aware

that I should have done this before it

leafed out but...it is what it is. I'll just

give it as much TLC as I can and hope

it gets off to a good start.

This whole area has begun to fill with flowering

"weeds". I have no clue what they are and don't

care enough to look them up. I just like them!

These are everywhere too. I haven't seen the

bees around any of these yet...they've been too

busy with all the clover in another part of my place.

I'm so ready to scatter the wildflower seeds that I 

ordered but we aren't usually frost free until the end

of April so I'm holding off on that.

 

I checked on all the willows that I planted the other day.

There've been some casualties...mostly the ones that were

around toothpick size ... although some of those are doing 

well. I'll leave everyone alone for a while to see if they rally 

before replacing them.

 

 Now to see how the old back holds up. Tomorrow may be

a stay in and read day.

Oh Well......

We had a severe weather system come through

in the wee hours of this morning. Unlike a lot

of my neighbors...I was lucky...with no damage

to my home...no trees down...no loss of power.

However....these:

they took a hit...and not for the first time.

I've repaired this chainsaw carving I did

of a owl twice before when it was damaged

by high winds. And the angel...I've lost 

count how many times I've repaired her

wings for the same reason. Sooooo.....

I think I'm giving up and chunking the owl

in the fire pile...along with the angel

wings. I'll have to see what I can come up

with to repurpose the angel into 

something else.

I See The Moon

I got a new solar light!

I know this is a poor photo...

taken in the dark and thru the

screen on my porch. It makes

me happy to see this little moon

when I look out after dark. Of

course it doesn't compare to the

awesome display our moon just 

pulled off. 

There was no work on my property

today....I really need to come up with

a name for my place. There was a woman

that lived on this property... in a little log

cabin... before we bought it... named Perla.

Over the years... any time something

unexplainable happened around here... we 

always said it was Perla...so I need to

include her name in whatever I choose.

I'll think on it.

Dude.....

Today's project...made a planter out of

an old log and put some Autumn Joy..

Vinca..and Lemon Balm in it since it

won't get watered often. Dude looks

like he's up to something wonky!

The Consequence Of Laziness

This is today's planting. I rescued this

holly from the woods beside a churchyard.

I also started another cold compost pile.

There is so much more I wanted to do today

after yesterday's rain but my back was like...

mmmmmmm...NO! I see how this is gonna

play out. One day's work and two days down

until I can get my muscles a little more fit.

That's what I get for sitting on my arse all

winter instead of staying active. Oh well...

one's better than none.

Happy Birthday To You.....

This Saturday is my firstborn's birthday.

I always like to give hand made gifts so I

made this candle holder for her.

I took the day off from working in my yard

to give my back a rest. Spent my day reading...

making this candle holder...and I baked a

sweet potato pie...the old timey kind with no

spices. I'm looking forward to a slice with

a good cup of coffee tomorrow. (I fast and

only eat one meal a day so no pie for me now.)

Our governor finally gave the order to stay home...

(me laughing out loud....) like someone has to

order me to stay home. That's what hermits do!

Whew....

Works like a charm!

I'm loving my new chipper! 

I planted six curly willow trees today

and mulched around all twenty eight.

Meanwhile...the rewilding is coming

right along....

 I don't know what this is but I

like it...

And lastly...the lady seems happy

this year.

Whew....my arse is dragging!

And It Begins....

They're planted...twenty two willow trees...

all around the front of my property. I plan to

plant six curly willows today. It's always

nice to start out with things that just love

to grow so success it pretty much a given.

 

I've done a walk about my land and noted

many volunteer trees that I'll try relocating.

I think I may have a wild muscadine vine

back in the woods. I'll have to research it's

growing habit to see if it can be in full sun.

 

The wood chipper that I ordered came 

yesterday and I got it assembled last night.

 

 

 It's electric and the only kind I can afford...

plus maintaining gas powered tools is a 

pain...like my chainsaws. I watched a lot

of youtube videos and read reviews before

deciding on this model. I think it will serve

my needs well enough. I'm going to give

it a try today so I can mulch around all

the willows.

 

Onward....

Oh My.....

Curly willow..hybrid willow..red dogwood...

elderberry... there's gonna be some planting

going on here soon. I can't wait to get the

willow established so I can start making some

living willow structures.

This little one is a sweet bay shrub. They don't

like living outside year round in zone 7 so 

I'm going to try to keep her in a pot....

something I'm not very good at doing.