Free mulch

Finally, the tree trimmers arrived this morning. The power company kept saying they were coming to trim the tree on our back property line that borders the power line easement that runs through the water retention area. I could never understand what threat it posed to those wires that are so high and so far away. Just so you know, the mention of power companies trimming trees sends chills up every spine in Ocala. Last year they butchered many large oaks growing in the wide median in East Silver Springs Boulevard. Incredibly horrifying!

So when DH said the power company was going to top and trim my ‘swing’ tree, I about had a cow. That was months ago, and I kept hoping that the day-glo orange paint spot they put on my tree would fade beyond recognition. A month or so ago the man came back and said it would happen later in the week. As nice as he was, he still didn’t convince me that it was necessary or that they would be gentle with my tree.

My first words to the tree guy were, "Are you going to be nice to my tree?" He said, yes, he wouldn't hurt the tree. The second thing I said was, "Can I have the wood chips?" He said yes. Whoopee!

He also said he would not be able to get as high as he needed to be to cut off all that the power company wanted him to cut off. He really was way up there with that pole saw.

I picked this lot because of that tree, instantly picturing a swing hanging from the sideways-growing part. Later the guy with the saw described the power company's aerial mapping and measuring (maybe not infrared but something techie like that). They do wind calculations and what happens if the wire swing this way in the wind while the tree falls that way into the wire. He said my tree would easily take down that wire which carries 250,000 volts. He said upon touching that wire my tree would instantly explode into 5,000 degree flames, destroying and electrifying everything under it and in the ground.       Aww, there goes my swing.

I asked him what would happen to the house. He didn't answer me.

He said the tree needed to be cut in half really, because it definitely could fall into the wires. $1,000,000 cost per day for every day it takes to fix it. He's telling me this after he's done and on the ground, so I asked him why he didn't cut the tree back farther than he did. He said he couldn't reach it, and besides, it would kill the tree. The power company doesn't care if the tree dies. It's the homeowner's problem and cost to take the dead tree down which would be a couple thousand dollars for this tree. He left me with the thought that he hadn't taken enough out of the tree to keep the wind from pushing it over, but DH was watching from the porch and said he took a lot off the top. I guess I won't worry about it.

Back her up, boys!

Ahhh. Beautiful stuff.

I could hear the roses getting all giggly.

Now I need some composted horse manure to put down under the mulch.

Let there be sun

With Tropical Storm Debby still spinning not far away in the eastern gulf and still dropping rain on us the tree guys decided to do our trimming work today anyway as long as there was no lightning. Unfortunately, I missed three-quarters of the show and then stood ogling them for a while before I remembered the camera. So under a steady drizzle I caught them trimming up the last tree while holding my breath as limbs were gently lowered down from aloft. Of course, gentle is relative when the item being lowered is a weighty hunk of wood with spreading branches. I can proudly say, however, that I kept my cool and didn't get hysterical as limb upon limb was laid on my roses.

First cuts have already been made, and there are already limbs at the base of the tree and hanging. Smaller ones have already landed on 'Mrs B R Cant' and been taken away - mostly.

'Arcadia Louisiana Tea' is in front of the right side of the arbor, and 'Mrs B R Cant' is between the trees.

The guys tried hard and did a good job of protecting the roses. There was only minor damage.

But these scenes were a bit unnerving.

Breathe, Sherry, breathe.

I had originally wanted to have the center tree, where the pink clematis is, removed completely, but I changed my mind on Saturday as I was rearranging 'Francois Juranville'. My compromise was to have them top the tree above the clump with the clematis, so that's what they did. That should allow more light under FJ and to the shade bed, keep some shade on the bench, and give FJ something to climb on. The loss of the next limb up cost some branching to the right which surprised me. I thought the branch was on the tree by the bench. The hairiest part of the job for me was when they lowered the very top section of this 40 or 50-foot tree onto the top of the arbor. I had visions of the two sticks of rebar being badly bowed, but apparently it only looked like the weight of the tree was on the arbor or else three-quarter-inch rebar doesn't bend that easy. FJ is pretty flattened though, and lots of canes have come loose from the trees.

I thought sure the roses were flattened - permanently.

One by one the branches were carried away. Still not much breathing going on.

Aren't tree guys amazing?

More clouds rolling in, and heavier rain falling.

Pretty much cleaned up. Hopefully, 'Mrs B R Cant' will bloom more and get huge, 'Arcadia Louisiana Tea' will ball less, and the daylilies will rust less. And maybe even the Sasanqua camelia in the square pot will appreciate the sun.

I did step out on the path but decided against a closer inspection. The whole garden was basically flattened from more than eight inches of rain yesterday and today. I saw a large crushed daylily in the front no doubt laid upon by a heavy limb from above. What do they say about the better part of valor being discretion? In other words I chickened out, quit looking and went inside. Tomorrow's another day for assessing the damage. I don't like the looks of those gashes from the tree guy's spikes.

Perhaps you can't tell it, but even on this cloudy, rainy day it was brighter under these trees. The 'Limelight' hydrangea to the left of the glass ball has not bloomed this year in total shade, so this will be a good thing.

Our lake is back, and the aquifer is getting fuller. Yay!!

The roses are happy about having more sun which makes the gardener happy. After all, doesn’t the gardener live to make her roses happy? DH is so-so about having less shade (and about writing the check), but doesn’t he live to make the gardener happy? (Just quoting him.) Alas, no choices in the garden are easy. On the one hand we were becoming entombed by the trees which were growing rapidly like weeds. On the other hand we love trees. Living – and gardening – is a game of trade-offs.