I think the same way. I also wonder if we move will the people who buy the house appreciate the work put into it or just rip it all out and start over. Around here a lot of new owners just tear the house down and build bigger. House, yard, plants the whole thing. Appreciate it for as long as you can.
I always think the same thing. Very time I visit my favorite U.S. city, Key West, I think it will be for the last time. Seems probable. But I’ve had three last visits. I don’t know what to make of that.
We always took some oriental pears we grew to a favored teacher. After the last of us finished high school, he got the name of the type of pear tree from my father.
A few years later, Daddy went by his house with a few, apologizing because the trees had done poorly but wanting him to enjoy what we had.
Mr J. Floyd Smith took him out back to show his own bumper crop from a grafted tree of the same type.
“I bet you didn’t think I’d live long enough to see it make, did you?”
“To be honest, that was exactly what I was thinking.”
A few years and several successful crops later he died. Several decades later Daddy died. Several hurricanes later our first set of pear trees died.
It’s okay. Daddy planted more later. They are still good even though I don’t tend them as I should. Daddy thought in terms of generations.
When we moved here over 15 years ago we transplanted a Rose of Sharon from our old home. Over the years we transplanted seedlings from that tree and now have about 20 (that survived) on our property. Curiously from that first tree which has purple/magenta flowers many of the transplanted seedlings have white/magenta flowers and our nearest neighbor’s property is over 1,000 feet away. Even more curious is that one tree with white/magenta flowers has one branch that produces albino flowers. I’m not a horticulturist but I’m thinking that soil conditions may cause the different flower colors but how one branch of a tree produces albino flowers is beyond my ken.
When I move into a place, I immediately have any and all trees removed and think how much better it looks and how much future toil and trouble I’ve saved myself.
About 20 years ago I planted a line of bushes halfway down the long dirt driveway to provide a future visual break between the house and the road. I don’t know what kind they are, but I’d only ever seen that kind tortured into hedges (for some reason hyper-trimmed shrubbery gives me the creeps). I let these do their thing and now they’re 15 or 20 feet high, thick, and covered with pink flowers in the spring. Mother Nature is a wonder.
They say that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. When we moved into our house 22 years ago, there were five or six shrubs about four fee tall separating our backyard from out neighbors’. Today there are six or seven trees up to 30 to 50 feet along the line and we can only see the neighbors’ house in winter when the leaves fall.
SpacedInvader Premium Member almost 2 years ago
I think the same way. I also wonder if we move will the people who buy the house appreciate the work put into it or just rip it all out and start over. Around here a lot of new owners just tear the house down and build bigger. House, yard, plants the whole thing. Appreciate it for as long as you can.
alasko almost 2 years ago
Pessimism is the root of his problem. Leaf him be.
Tyge Premium Member almost 2 years ago
So far, so good! 8^ )
dsTrekker Premium Member almost 2 years ago
I always think the same thing. Very time I visit my favorite U.S. city, Key West, I think it will be for the last time. Seems probable. But I’ve had three last visits. I don’t know what to make of that.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault almost 2 years ago
We always took some oriental pears we grew to a favored teacher. After the last of us finished high school, he got the name of the type of pear tree from my father.
A few years later, Daddy went by his house with a few, apologizing because the trees had done poorly but wanting him to enjoy what we had.
Mr J. Floyd Smith took him out back to show his own bumper crop from a grafted tree of the same type.
“I bet you didn’t think I’d live long enough to see it make, did you?”
“To be honest, that was exactly what I was thinking.”
A few years and several successful crops later he died. Several decades later Daddy died. Several hurricanes later our first set of pear trees died.
It’s okay. Daddy planted more later. They are still good even though I don’t tend them as I should. Daddy thought in terms of generations.
Dyonia almost 2 years ago
Your Daddy was a wise man. Thanks for the reminder to plant trees for my kids.
gsam almost 2 years ago
We say “when it matures, it won’t be our problem “
nosirrom almost 2 years ago
When we moved here over 15 years ago we transplanted a Rose of Sharon from our old home. Over the years we transplanted seedlings from that tree and now have about 20 (that survived) on our property. Curiously from that first tree which has purple/magenta flowers many of the transplanted seedlings have white/magenta flowers and our nearest neighbor’s property is over 1,000 feet away. Even more curious is that one tree with white/magenta flowers has one branch that produces albino flowers. I’m not a horticulturist but I’m thinking that soil conditions may cause the different flower colors but how one branch of a tree produces albino flowers is beyond my ken.
Say What? Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Pushing a lawn mower around all that will be challenging.
DawnQuinn1 almost 2 years ago
On my last house, I spent ages replacing the flooring and painting every wall. First thing the new owners did? You guessed it.
Marcia Gibson Premium Member almost 2 years ago
“A society grows great when old men plant trees the shade of which they know they’ll will never sit in”
Tom_Tildrum almost 2 years ago
Whenever I plant a shrub, I wonder if it will live out the year.
jarvisloop almost 2 years ago
Being about Arlo’s age, I can say this with certainty: Sooner – not later- Arlo will be right.
jarvisloop almost 2 years ago
I should also mention that my own Janis wonders if she will be around to see me finally mature.
T Smith almost 2 years ago
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.
The second best time is today.
John Leonard Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Anymore, I figure I won’t – but somebody will.
Moonkey Premium Member almost 2 years ago
They could spend some time trimming down the past plantings.
EMGULS79 almost 2 years ago
When I move into a place, I immediately have any and all trees removed and think how much better it looks and how much future toil and trouble I’ve saved myself.
Holilubillkori Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Gave mom a 3 ft. red maple for Mother’s Day many years ago… I miss her dearly ,but her gift is still growing strong.
raybarb44 almost 2 years ago
One day, the answer will be no…….
fencie almost 2 years ago
About 20 years ago I planted a line of bushes halfway down the long dirt driveway to provide a future visual break between the house and the road. I don’t know what kind they are, but I’d only ever seen that kind tortured into hedges (for some reason hyper-trimmed shrubbery gives me the creeps). I let these do their thing and now they’re 15 or 20 feet high, thick, and covered with pink flowers in the spring. Mother Nature is a wonder.
ernie almost 2 years ago
They say that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. When we moved into our house 22 years ago, there were five or six shrubs about four fee tall separating our backyard from out neighbors’. Today there are six or seven trees up to 30 to 50 feet along the line and we can only see the neighbors’ house in winter when the leaves fall.
christelisbetty almost 2 years ago
For me it’s an Elm I found as a twig, and nursed through drought, hungry rabbits and cicada swarms, then left behind.
mcnutt almost 2 years ago
I think I understand now. If Janis let’s Arlo sail, she’ll have to leave behind her gosh-darn-golly-gee-ding-dong plants.
James Lindley Premium Member almost 2 years ago
A wine Icee?