Frances

Our family has a new addition.  She stays exclusively in the yard and is tethered to the ground by 3 yellow ropes.  She's the tallest in the family, at about 15 feet.  She's also the thinnest. 

Yup, you guessed it!  She's a tree.  A Patmore Ash tree, to be exact.  We bought her from our local nursery, Alameda Greenhouse.  They were having a HALF OFF ALL TREES sale!  Crazy!  So we of course had to give her a loving home.  The people there were so helpful and knowledgeable.  We will definitely go back for any gardening needs.

We have always wanted a tree, but I didn't want to plant one because our neighbors have 3--that's right, 3--Navajo Willow Trees.  Have you ever seen one of those?  They are fast-growing, self-pruning trees that grow to be MUCH too large for our measly 20' by 48' (give or take) back yards.  I didn't want my tree competing for water with those giants.

Well, one fateful day, the tree that shared our corner was blown over in the wind--root and all.  In my heart the desire to have our very own tree in our very own yard was renewed.  We decided we would get one for our 7 year anniversary.

See how empty our little corner was?

Have you ever planted a tree before?  Neither have we.  Or maybe Doug has.  But I haven't.

It was a treacherous ride home, with the tender tree hanging out the back of Doug's ol' Ranger.  But we made it.  We had purchased it on Saturday morn', and picked it up on Sunday after church.  Good idea?

Frances' first (and only) road trip.

No.  It was close to 100 degrees outside.  No problem!  We just put our metal table and chairs around it to bolster it from any wind that might come along and waited till evening to plant it.

Timber!!!

Boom.  That was the sound of the tree falling over and BREAKING my lovely cafe chair.  Made of metal.  Dang, our tree is a toughie.  Needless to say, we got our shovels and got to work.  The hole had to be 27 in. deep and 18 in. wide.  Yowsas.  Really, Doug did all the digging, but I cheered him on.  Go Doug!  Then we had to fill the hole with a mixture of half potting soil and have sand from the hole. We are still deciding what to do with the leftover sand.  Anyone want?

Digging to China

Just as we suspected!  This was a root from that darn tree that fell down.  It was going all the way to the grass! 

After hours of toil in the soil, it was time to plant the tree.  But wait, what was this black plastic casing around the roots?  Oh, the pot that it grew in.  We had to cut that off, which was a chore, but finally, we set it into the soil and filled the rest of the hole with our soil mixture.  Then we made a burm (is that the right word?) and filled it with water.

We have to water it every day until it is established.  Whenever that is.  We also decided to anchor the tree, due to the chair-breaking windstorm experience.

All in all, we are very pleased with our anniversary gift.  It is a good-looking tree for a great price, and it is already providing some shade for Charlie.  I imagine sipping lemonade under it someday, maybe on a new cafe set.  Until then, it spruces up our yard, and every time I look at it I think of the years of joy that our marriage has brought.  And that's the best part.  :)

Frances without the anchors.  Charlie approves!