Tag: trees

Posted on

Tree branch clean up

For the last week we’ve had super hot and humid weather with lots of storms coming in. With those storms came a very loud and rather scary thunder symphony and a light show like you wouldn’t believe. The lightning was even going side ways across the sky. It also did a lot of damage to the big maple tree I have in the back yard, bordering the field line.

After a HUGH booming roll of thunder I looked outside in time to see my tree get struck by lightning. It was fascinating yet frightening to see. One of the main branches was struck and down it came. After the storm we went outside and looked at the damage, and it wasn’t quite enough for the tree to have to be cut to the ground, but it does look a bit worse for wear and has a bald spot right in the middle.

There is a lot of clean up to do, with not only chopping up and drying out the big branch so it can be burned, but also other limbs from the various trees and shrubs, that had wind damage and fell. Looks like we’re going to have a bon fire when these storms are over with.

Posted on

Planet Lady is Conscious

Thanks to Roman May

I’ve become really conscious of my impact on the environment since I watched a couple of documentaries on the impact of people on the planet. I really worry about the state that we’re going to leave this place for our kids and also how quickly the planet’s resources have been degraded just in the last century or so. I know it’s all part of modernization but I worry about whether or not we’re being really short-sighted when it comes to our energy and our carbon footprints. I went online the other day and looked into http://www.electriccompaniestexas.net to find out who in my area had the best record of giving back to planet-related causes and I think I’m going to make a switch. I’ve been making small but meaningful changes in my life to try and reduce my carbon footprint, personally, like switching to organic produce and turning off the heat when I’m able to burn a wood fire in my fireplace. I try to take it back to the 19th century, that’s what I say, because they knew what they were doing when it came to not hurting the planet for their own good. I don’t want to become a crazy hippie about it all, you know, with dreads and chaining myself to trees and whatnot, but I need to make sure I’m doing my part where I can and not just expecting other people to pick up my slack. It’s important to me to be a good citizen of the earth and I’m trying to make small changes in my every day life to do just that without totally changing the way I live. I like to think some of my efforts will have an impact on my friends and coworkers but who knows. Sometimes you just have to do what you know is right and hope other people follow suit. There’s nothing you can do to make others better people and that’s something you have to accept early on or you’ll drive yourself crazy!

Posted on

Mr. Tree and advice

My oldest daughter sent this to me, as some of her “sage” advice. I thought it was pretty cool. For one, I love trees. You can say, yes…I am a tree hugger, person. And I really liked the advice, considering I’ve been fretting a lot about things and realize that it’s time to go out and embrace nature to get a firm grip on my out of control imagination. She sent this to me at the right time. I’m not sure which category it falls in actually, but I do know that indeed it is an opinion and also a reminder that I have to get back out and go hug a tree and groove with nature to feel better. It’s been a long tough winter.

Posted on

A great Spring gardening magazines

I’m so excited. My son brought in the mail today and handed me not one, but two new Spring 2012  Native Gardener’s Companion magazines! This is like a catalog, but with tips on growing various flowers, potted plants, shrubs and trees, plus a whole lot more.

In the What’s New section, I see that they now offer a Pollinator Kit that I would like to try. It consists of a tray of 38 potted plants for moist soil situations, and from the sound of it, there are a variety of really pretty colors, and forms of plants that attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, all of which I love. Some people are afraid of bees and try to get rid of them. I’m not one of those people. I love bumbles and honey bees. The only kind I don’t like, are the ones that are long and yellow and up here, people call them yellow jackets. They like to attack and build nests under the eves, and actually anywhere they can. Those are scary and so very mean. Plus they do nothing for my gardens. I’m glad that I rarely see them anywhere near my plants.

I’ve noticed also that the Gardner’s companion has include a color coded diagrams for planting gardens in various way, including plants in pots and various flowers and grasses. This is a great idea. I like to get new ideas and ways of making my gardens look different each year. I’m so excited for Spring to get here. And getting this magazine in the mail today boosted my spirits.