MUSINGS

I got my lawn cleaned up, more or less, and mowed more than half of my two acre lawn. We have many trees, which I planted, and some of our yard is becoming quite wooded. I planted soft maples[6?], sugar maples[10], iron wood[2], a red pine, oaks[3], several apple trees [ornamental crab and fruit bearing] and a few other trees I can't remember while I am sitting here. When we moved in forty-one years ago, there was nothing in the yard but one ornamental crab, a dying mountain ash, a sprinkling of Siberian elms, an American elm, a majestic red elm and some aging box elders. The box elders were the dominant tree around the house.

The box elders were way past their prime and the last one survived until about 25 years ago. The majestic red elm, also called slippery elm, fell victim to Dutch elm disease. The American elm was still youthful 41 years ago. I would estimate its age at 40 when we moved in. It stands in a prominent place in our backyard and dominates the area where we often sit outside. It is very near our outside fireplace.

In the 15 years after we moved in, Dutch elm disease ravaged the country side. Our pastures were populated by three kinds of native elms, many of them huge, they all died. It was clear to me. That the American elm, standing in our back yard, would soon be a victim. I planted a red pine and sugar maple close up, nearly under the overhanging branches and planted three other sugar maples nearby. I was planning for the future.

I waited for the future to come. I studied that elm tree, trying to figure out how I would cut it down and remove it when it died. I watched it with a critical eye, year after year. It still stands there, doubled in size and shading the trees, I planted to replace it. I bless it and wish it a long life and I like the little mini-forest that I created when I thought it was going to die. Perhaps it is one of those rare elms that is immune to the disease, or perhaps it is because Jamie pounded in a few zinc coated nail every year. She reasoned that, if the disease is a fungus that clogs up the water bearing function of the cambium layer, then Zinc coated nails may help it. Zinc is a natural fungicide. Whatever the reason, we are blessed with a beautiful American elm in our backyard.

As I sit here, I recall the other trees in our yard. The two oaks and the quaking aspens that volunteered. I, also, planted other pines, spruce, and firs. And a few odd things like a catalpa. I got to quit this train of thought, now I am seeing a cherry tree and a pear tree. I should take an inventory.

We have three crab apples and several other apples that are blooming right now. The crab apples are amazing this year. They are packed with blooms and the colors are vibrant. There are several gorgeous specimens in our neighborhood and it is worth taking a drive to see them.

I was noticing yesterday, that all the trees in our yard seem to be fruiting copiously, especially the elm, maples and birch [oh yeah, we have birch too]. Perhaps, that portends a fruitful year.

Jamie is getting the garden in, little by little. I am not much help. She has potatoes and cole crops in. I can't get down on my knees anymore. It is difficult to plant standing up. I suppose I could plant onions standing up. I plant my amaryllis and gladiolas every year.

On one hand I don't mind getting old. When I sit here I feel like I could be twenty five. I don't know I am old, until I stand up and move the body. What bothers me, the most, are little tasks that were once routine, I now find daunting. I have to walk along the pasture fence and estimate how long a roll of fence is. I bought several rolls years ago and I didn't use two of them. I now want to use them to join our two pastures together. I can't remember how long they are. I think 350 feet. I need to go out and measure a length of the existing fence. A simple fun excursion. Yet, yet it is not like it was just a few years ago. Oh well, aging of the body is one thing we need to accept if we are going to live to a ripe old age on this planet. Most aspects of growing old are fine. I don't want to be younger. Perhaps, I just need to get out there and do it. This Winter was more sedentary than usual. I need to stir the stumps.

Well, this has been an atypical blog.

I do love my life.

ALL IS WELL. 

Love and Peace, Gregg