Falling In Love (a.k.a. Peep's gardening journal)

[PunkinPeep]

It is a dreaded day that has long been coming - the day the trees start coming down - and then it was cut short.

Last weekend, my husband got his early Christmas present - a chain saw.

The small group of trees keeping us from gardening on one side of the property were slated for destruction a couple of months ago - since they are the smallest number of trees we could cut down (the least damage possible) and still free up enough sunlight to make a profitable go of a large (and i do mean large) garden.

Well, i'm sure that we should've consulted a professional before cutting down full grown oak trees, but i walked outside and found out the oak tree was coming down (one of many; don't panic). This is also, incidentally, how i became a chicken farmer. I walked outside, and found out that i had chickens. My mother told me i would never be bored when i married this man, and she was right.

Anyway, this particular tree has been looming since we moved here because it is large and hollow, and this hurricane country. I needn't say more.

I was watching him cut into this tree, and i was saying to myself ' i wonder why he thinks those cuts are going to keep it from falling on the well,' when i heard a cracking, and my husband yell, "TIMBER!" Would you like to guess in which direction it fell? That's right! It fell on the well. :/

Actually, one branch fell on a pipe leading between the tank and well - and broke it.

I'm sure you can guess what my husband is doing now.

Anyway, this glorious hollow tree is really beautiful, and i took some pictures for your entertainment. I'm trying to think of some way to use some of the parts of it decoratively. It has several 'squirrel holes' and, as i said, is completely hollow.

Impressively Hollow

Squirrel Hole (i know, there are probably not any squirrels actually living in there)

Inside the squirrel hole

My mighty woodsman/plumber

Could it have broken in a much worse place? Thank God it doesn't appear to have actually destroyed the well itself.

And the Chinese Privet - which may very well be loved by others but at my house, will be replaced.

 

[lesa]

Oh my, a man and his chainsaw!!! Hopefully, you were able to get that fixed without too much trouble! I love the hollow tree. I used pieces of mine as planters this year and they were really fun. I had plants in the top of a log and some coming out of the "squirrel hole". It looked really neat. You will find ways to use them I am sure. Keep us posted...

 

[obsessed]

Thats cool. I wonder how a tree gets hollow?

 

[PunkinPeep]

He said he had to chisel the broken piece out of the part that goes into the well. We're waiting for the glue to dry right now. So we'll know soon whether we get to take showers tomorrow.

I love that you mentioned planters. We were standing outside a long time talking about ways we can use the trees that have to come down. We talked about using the pines for posts on the house or cut up for raised beds.

And then it dawned on me too - i can use the hollow trunk for planters by the house. That will be awesome! And the idea to use the squirrel hole is awesome! I can't wait. I also can't wait to see how my husband will manage to move the pieces. Maybe i should plan a family get-together.

My understanding about the hollow tree is that it is caused by a fungus, and it's called heart rot. I don't really understand what causes that or if it can be prevented. I've read that heart rot doesn't necessarily make the tree dangerous, but since another hollow, apparently strong anyway, oak, fell last year during IKE, it seemed wise to cut this one down.

 

[journey11]

The spiral on that hollow trunk is cool!

Glad everything turned out ok! Cutting down trees can be pretty unpredictable!

If you don't want to have to haul off that wood yourself, put an ad in the paper that says "free oak firewood - come and get it!" My husband gets some of ours that way. Oak is one of the best for heating too.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Thanks, Journey! I think so too.

We're really trying to think of ways to use the wood to add some great features to our landscaping and future renovations. Thanks for the idea though. I do have another one that i think has been sitting too long for me to use it for landscaping, but someone might be able to let it dry and use it for fire wood. Good idea.

Oh, and good news. We have water again. Whew!

 

[digitS']

You mean he ran water into that pipe only about 6 hours after he glued it .

Well, I don't know, anyway . . . .

Falling trees is terribly unpredictable, especially when they have problems like that and that's a tall tree. BTW - It looks so strange to me to have water pipes an tank out in the open. It's 14F here right now and w i n d y !

Steve

 

[PunkinPeep]

The bottle apparently said 2 hours would be good.

And yes, it should have something on it. It used to have a well-house. But the well house was moldy and termitey and spider filled and too small to allow my husband actually inside of it to have access to the pump to make repairs.

So....we tore it down. Well, he tore it down. I watched and took pictures.

This is a post-hoist demonstration of how my mighty man removed the well-house from its former position.

The neighbors were pleased, i'm sure.

And yes, we really need to build a new one.

Although, it's pretty much never 14 degrees here. We just have to watch out for falling trees! Oh, and get this, he was nervous about letting someone else come and cut it down because he was afraid it would fall on the well.

Thanks! I've been looking for an excuse to show those pictures to someone.

 

[cwhit590]

Oh, and get this, he was nervous about letting someone else come and cut it down because he was afraid it would fall on the well.

LOL!
Good ole Murphy's Law.....

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi PunkinPeep

I am so enjoying reading your journal.
It is like being perched on your shoulder as you wander round your property discovering your love for it.

I have only just found it on the forum but now it has become compulsive reading (& I have caught up on all the backpages).

You certainly have a beautiful location, full of great trees & shrubs. I am so glad you are treating them with love & respect & only getting rid of the minimum. I too have a woodland garden round my house & I feel the benefit of being surrounded by all those tones of green every day -- it's like being part of 'a living tapestry'.

Good luck with the repairs to the water-pump holding.

:rose Hattie :rose