Wednesday, April 10, 2002

Johnny Appleseed R US

Planted the first tree today. Which was a bigger deal than one might think.

This is after all a commitment. We're talking possibly a lifetime of togetherness, depending on how long I keep this house.

Professional Home Design Platinum TM is guiding my landscaping efforts, so it is not as if my choices can be willy-nilly.

The plan calls for three trees. One to shade the driveway and front of the house; one to shade the back of the house and patio; and a third to shade the bar-b-que palapa.

Originally, I thought live oaks would be the ticket. They are everywhere in the hill country area and grow relatively quickly, but then I found out about oak wilt -- not to mention sudden death oak disease. No cure, almost always fatal. Glad I'm not a tree.

Turning to the web for knowledge and wisdom, Wal-Mart's site suggested the LBJ Winged Elm or Ginkgo Biloba for tree growth over fifty feet and a Bradford Pear for growth between thirty and fifty feet.

Due to Elm disease -- which sounds worse than oak fungus -- no votes for the LBJ.

The Ginkgo sounds way cool for the house/patio tree -- which I want to have real growth potential -- but I want to see a full size one first.

Googling on Ginkgos produced these cool factoids: They survived Hiroshima and there is at least one planted at the Alamo, the state capital in Austin, and on the Whitehouse grounds.

Wow, a tree that can laugh at the atom bomb. I used to say only cockroaches and saltillo floor tile would survive nuclear holocaust, but have since amended the list.

Evidently Ginkgos even thrive in polluted urban areas -- like Manhattan.

But back to planting the tree... I found a decent sized Bradford Flowering Pear at a reasonable price for the driveway spot. The nursery promised quick growth, hardy temperature endurance, pretty white Spring flowers and bright Fall foliage.

Plus it likes full sun -- important as the front of the house is an afternoon blast furnace. It is currently about nine feet tall, came in a ten gallon container, and I've decided to name it Brad. Original, eh?

I schlepped Brad to the car, took the top off, dropped it in shotgun, and took the back roads home. One of the cool things about a convertible is the passenger's side can be a 3 x 3 truck bed for tall stuff. I got lots of looks while driving, but ol' Brad and I made it just fine.

I dug a pit suitable for burying a small child and in Brad went. Hopefully to thrive.

posted by Bohica at 12:22 AM