12 Trees

Last winter Jeff and I made a promise that we wouldn't plant any trees and bushes this year. Last summer, especially because of the drought, we were tied to watering. I can't remember how long it took each morning and afternoon. I imagine this summer, when it's 90 degrees in July, that memory will come back to me.

Last week Aldi's had a really good sale on ornamental trees, shrubs and fruit bushes. I was kicking myself for not getting there sooner because they ran out of the blueberries early in the week. But they sure weren't out of trees and bushes.

Saturday we planted, three Eastern Redbuds and two Purple Leaf Plums. We long forgot promises made in the dead of winter and the spring day got our adrenaline going (adrenaline I'll question when it really is 90 degrees in July). Soon we decided if you have to water five then what is a few more? And, a White Dogwood would really look good paired with two of the Redbuds and the horses could use some shade in the front pasture. Sadie, Jeff and I piled into the truck and headed off to our favorite nursery. We came home with a Cherokee Princess White Dogwood, two Red Maples (to line up with the one we planted last year), a Weeping Willow (for the low damp spot in the pasture) and a Blueberry Bush. By the time we got home it was pouring down rain. So much for having a relaxing Sunday.

Sunday the trees were in the ground by 2pm. We were putting stuff away when Jeff walked out to the cabin and came back saying, "You are not going to believe this but the trees Judy gave us last year, that you thought were dead, they're budding out." I couldn't believe it. Someone gave her some oak trees and she had more than she could plant. We ended up with three of them. It was the 90 degrees in July thing and we couldn't decide where to put them, so we transplanted them into bigger pots. Nothing special, no peat moss, no special dirt, no fertilizer, no mulch; we just stuck them in a pot of our hard as a rock clay. They didn't get much water all summer and none this winter (except when mom was here and she felt sorry for them). I told her, go ahead water them, but they're dead. We got the shovels out again and planted the most drought resistent, neglegience resistent, trees I have ever had. If they survive the summer then I'm going to throw all my gardening books out the window. You know the ones that tell you in great detail how to take care of newly planted trees; we broke every rule in the book on these.

Then we got the Blueberry Bush in the ground and pruned the two we bought last year, cut the grass, dug up another flower bed and planted three of the six shrubs I got at Aldi's. These are Burning Bushes and supposed to have fire red leaves in the fall. My back is aching and the other three Lilac bushes will have to wait till next week-end.

When I was growing up I had a friend named Debbie who lived up the street from my house. She had a huge Lilac bush in her front yard. I have been in love with them ever since we made May Day baskets of Lilac's every year and took them to all the neighbors. She and I both had our bedrooms painted lilac. Mine is still that way at mom's. I have never had a Lilac Bush and not sure how good they will do here, but it's worth a try. Aldi's price was to tempting to a Lilac Lover.

Then there are the plants coming from The Michigan Bulb company. Jeff doesn't quite know how many there are and how many more holes he is going to be diggin'. I'll let him in on that after the fatigue from this week-end wears off.

We'll we broke our "no new plants" promise...it will still be 90 degrees in July and we'll be watering all summer, but next spring is going to be absolutly beautiful!