http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:47:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28834 Thu, 01 Feb 2007 03:26:47 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28834 John - If you buy bare root seedlings from a nursery, there really isn't too much work to planting them - at least, not too much here at our farm as we have quite sandy soil and few rocks. The biggest challenge would be making sure they got a good watering to get them started. Up here, we plant our trees around May 1st, when the soil is usually wet from spring rains and the seedlings are just coming out of winter dormancy. All of that may not be the same where you are. Although I don't usually put mulch around the seedlings, a lot of people say that helps the trees get off to a good start as they don't have to compete against weeds that might choke them out. John - If you buy bare root seedlings from a nursery, there really isn’t too much work to planting them - at least, not too much here at our farm as we have quite sandy soil and few rocks. The biggest challenge would be making sure they got a good watering to get them started. Up here, we plant our trees around May 1st, when the soil is usually wet from spring rains and the seedlings are just coming out of winter dormancy. All of that may not be the same where you are. Although I don’t usually put mulch around the seedlings, a lot of people say that helps the trees get off to a good start as they don’t have to compete against weeds that might choke them out.

]]> http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28831 Thu, 01 Feb 2007 03:10:12 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28831 My wife and I have about an acre (and another 2 we co-own with a brother) about 2.5 hours south of Dallas. We've been talking about planting trees on the property, both for ourselves and those who come later. Bev, your 'small' numbers seem enormous, to me. But you've given me added impetus to stop talking and do some planting! My wife and I have about an acre (and another 2 we co-own with a brother) about 2.5 hours south of Dallas. We’ve been talking about planting trees on the property, both for ourselves and those who come later. Bev, your ’small’ numbers seem enormous, to me. But you’ve given me added impetus to stop talking and do some planting!

]]> http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28769 Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:28:10 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28769 robin - It's really nice being able to watch trees grow, even though I know we won't be around long enough to see them reach their potential. - Am - I love Tamaracks too - definitely among my favourite trees. So soft and verdant in spring and summer. When I was in the redwoods in Octover, it just happened that a campsite my friend and I stopped to check out had a little redwood sapling inside a protective circle of stones right beside it. We thought that was kind of special and decided to camp at that site for a couple of nights. - Cathy - I'm one of those people who imagine things already "done" or "grown" almost from the moment they begin. To me, when I'm planting a foot tall seedling, I'm already imagining it 30 or 40 feet tall -- it almost seems that way to me. I think all tree-planters must have a bit of that way of thinking in order to stay motivated. robin - It’s really nice being able to watch trees grow, even though I know we won’t be around long enough to see them reach their potential.
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Am - I love Tamaracks too - definitely among my favourite trees. So soft and verdant in spring and summer. When I was in the redwoods in Octover, it just happened that a campsite my friend and I stopped to check out had a little redwood sapling inside a protective circle of stones right beside it. We thought that was kind of special and decided to camp at that site for a couple of nights.
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Cathy - I’m one of those people who imagine things already “done” or “grown” almost from the moment they begin. To me, when I’m planting a foot tall seedling, I’m already imagining it 30 or 40 feet tall — it almost seems that way to me. I think all tree-planters must have a bit of that way of thinking in order to stay motivated.

]]> http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28658 Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:10:59 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28658 There is something beautifully haunting about planting trees for others. It implies knowledge and acceptance of your own limited lifespan while dreaming a dream of another who will someday pass beneath your gift and look up and perhaps offer a silent thanks to those who thought to bless the future with sturdy trunks and treetops whispering in the breeze. There is something beautifully haunting about planting trees for others. It implies knowledge and acceptance of your own limited lifespan while dreaming a dream of another who will someday pass beneath your gift and look up and perhaps offer a silent thanks to those who thought to bless the future with sturdy trunks and treetops whispering in the breeze.

]]> http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28650 Tue, 30 Jan 2007 23:39:04 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/30/my-tree-children/#comment-28650 Tamarack is one of my favorite trees. Just the photo I needed to see today. Once I was in a redwood forest in Humboldt County in California and noticed that I was feeling a love for the redwood seedlings as if they were human children. Thanks for reminding me of that. Tamarack is one of my favorite trees. Just the photo I needed to see today. Once I was in a redwood forest in Humboldt County in California and noticed that I was feeling a love for the redwood seedlings as if they were human children. Thanks for reminding me of that.

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