2017
/SPRING 2017:
A very wet spring but no losses which is a great combination. I can't remember a year when the grass has grown so quickly and thickly. I estimate that there are now over 2000 trees planted and quite a number are starting to actually reach the size of trees. It is very satisfying to see the Arboretum filling up and an increasing number of trees flowering for the first time.
Emerging avenue of crab apples in flower ( Malus floribunda)
Cockies have removed most of the flowers from tree top
Some of the pear blossom that survived the Cockies
WINTER 2017:
A very wet winter meant a lot of water lying around.
AUTUMN 2017:
Late Autumn or winter is my preferred time for tree pruning. It is surprising how much formative pruning is required. I also make the point of removing the lower branches of most species. My thinking behind this is that weed control is made easier. Additional benefits of removing the lower branches is to encourage the trees to grow upwards and to minimise snake habitat.
SUMMER 2017:
Summer is the time of year when any earth works are undertaken. The major task for this year was to excavate some new areas in the Land of the Giants to create a stock pile of top soil for future use. The areas where the soil was excavated from will fill with water in winter and be planted with a 100 or so scented paper bark trees. Hopefully the result will be what I am calling the Sunken hedge.