Imbolc \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Valentine Moon<\/p>\n
In two separate deconstructive moves the squirrel arboreal highway into our orchard disappeared. \u00a0First, last fall, the small ash that had a branch brushing the fence came down; the first tree felled with the new Gransfor Burks ax. \u00a0Today, the Swede saw cut off a long limb which also dangled invitingly near the fence and, literally, a hop and a jump away from our Honeycrisp tree. \u00a0This four-inch thick oak limb had to come off now to avoid the possible of oak wilt getting transmitted through the wound. \u00a0That could happen if the cut were made even in early spring and any time from then until the end of the growing season.<\/p>\n
Now the little buggers will have to scale the fence, grab an apple, rescale the fence with the apple, not so easy, and carry the apple up a tree trunk to get into the branches. \u00a0Again, not so easy. \u00a0But, as we are well aware, hardly impossible. \u00a0Squirrels, rabbits, deer, turkeys and dogs all create serious problems for the exurban gardener, problems to which they, I’ve discovered, no permanent solutions, only barriers that can restrict to our moveable feasts of fruit and vegetable.<\/p>\n
Also, sadly, I checked the hive that had live bees back in January. \u00a0They are now dead. \u00a0My management practices were not the best last year, so I imagine I didn’t help them much, but it’s still disheartening.<\/p>\n
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Imbolc \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Valentine Moon In two separate deconstructive moves the squirrel arboreal highway into our orchard disappeared. \u00a0First, last fall, the small ash that had a … Continue reading Removing Roadways. Of the Treekind.<\/span>