The former mimosa tree that fell in the storm. I'm thinking about what to do with all that wood. It would be a shame to just throw it away.
The stump easily came out of the ground. Looks like a tiny bit of live wood was holding the tree up and it's amazing that it was standing at all. Here it is turned upside down. I'm thinking of a hybrid stumpery/fern table/shady bed idea might work there.
I lost count at 20 bamboo culms that snapped off in the snow. This picture was taken in the morning and by afternoon the area was piled shoulder-high with bamboo.
The path through the pot ghetto still has snow piled too high (having fallen from the roof of the greenhouse) to use the closer access to the alley so debris had to be schlepped out the side gate and around the yard the long way. Fun.
Another morning shot. As dusk fell, bamboo was piled to the top of the garage door. Anyone need some bamboo poles? They disappear fairly quickly back there but the bin just keeps filling up.
Most of the hellebores are starting to pop back up but this fellow is having a tough time of it.
I think a stumpery would give you a nice "bed" for new plants and help to turn this lemon of a storm into lemonade.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to see the plants growing on the log in Loree's post from yesterday.
DeleteDid the mimosa tree showed signs of weakness or disease? The chopped up logs have a wonderful pattern that reminds me of a marbled cake... do you know anyone with a wood-shope who could use the wood? If I lived next door I'd take some of the Bamboo culms off your hands.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago, a large limb crashed down fully leafed out, breaking the leader off our persimmon tree during rainy weather and when the former neighbor on the other side of the fence decided to sell the house, he cut off another huge branch that was hanging over his side. I don't think either healed properly. It started leaning a bit this summer and I had an arborist look at it but he said he thought it was healthy and was only leaning to get more light. Looks like there was only a slight layer of cambium on one side holding the poor thing up. Three cheers for the now-leaning persimmon tree for holding the mimosa up until we could cut it.
DeleteI wondered if you'd be going to the preview. Hmmm...Monday off for Presidents day, Tuesday off for the preview, Thursday off to go to the show...that's an odd workweek!
ReplyDeleteThe wood from the Albizia has such interesting coloring inside. And smart thinking to use the stump for your very own stumpery. I can't wait to see what you come up with. Also...how crazy that the path next to the greenhouse/garage so perfectly matches up with where the snow falls off the roof.
So, we had M - W off because of the snow. Thursday we worked but it was a day without kids. Friday and Monday made a four day weekend for President's day. A two-day work week this week will be strange as it seems like ages since I worked with kids. Can't believe that next Friday it'll be March already.
DeleteI already have some wood and faux wood planters further down that bed along with lots of moss. Can't plant much there because the bamboo culms have to be periodically dug out Maybe I'll use some of the cut pieces to elevate planters to make it a bit more interesting.
Only advice: start whittling!
ReplyDeleteI didn't say it was helpful advice.
Props on getting the bamboo cut and removed so quickly. I still have canes from last year to sort out. :(
DeleteHated cutting some of those huge culms but walking through the grove is always a bit nicer with more light coming through.
I like the idea of turning the stump into something more artistic. Those bright yellow bamboo poles are tempting, but I'm not sure what I'd do with them. Maybe just use them for supports? I'm not quite awake yet -- I looked at those first few shots and thought "What is all that white stuff? Did a mattress explode?" People post about wood on craigslist all the time, for others to come and take it away for burning in fireplaces and wood stoves. Although if you cut it into rounds, they would make very nice decorative "stepping stones" because of the interesting patterns inside.
ReplyDeleteI might bring some of those yellow poles back in to throw in a big planter but perhaps they'll just stay out there. Some of the wood will go out into the above-ground planting along the fence where I keep bringing in moss and faux wood planters. Maybe they could act as edging for that bed.
DeleteI finally found the setting that was preventing me making comments on blogs, including my own. Just in time to see all the NW Garden show blogs and praise everybody for sharing any and every thing they see.
ReplyDeleteLots of possibilites in pieces of wood and bamboo, you'll find a use for all of it.
Hooray! Yes, there's always a creative use for most garden stuff and if nothing else, the wood will be stacked somewhere until a use presents itself.
DeleteSo sad to see your Albizia go. Almost like losing a member of the (garden) family. I look forward to your posts on the NWGS as sadly I can't make it this year. It is always good for a mid winter pick-me-up.
ReplyDeleteLimbs had fallen from that tree before making us nervous and it seems like there was only a small bit of healthy wood holding up the tree. They're usually short-lived and I won't miss the messy blooms falling in the pond all summer. I am sick about the maple that lost several huge limbs and am hoping that it will be able to recover this summer.
DeleteOh, wow, that's a big clean up job. But it does give you new space to fill creatively. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, every loss leaves space for something new. It'll be fun to play with that space.
DeleteMy little area of disarray is nothing like this. My gosh. You have your hands full of work. Surely you can find a project using those bamboo poles. I would love to have them. I don't know what I would do with them. You are going to have some big projects awaiting you this summer.
ReplyDeleteThe greenhouse has a corner devoted to saved bamboo poles If there are any left out in the alley next time I go out there, I may bring a few of the gold ones in but there needs to be a purpose for them or they'll just add to the clutter of the garden.
DeleteWe have flattened hellebores too. And lots of branches and twigs and stuff that will need to be cleaned up. I'm not looking too closely yet.
ReplyDeleteWe will be going to the NWFG fest on Thursday. I decided not to go to the preview.
I may have a love-hate relationship with my own mimosa tree but I wouldn't wish the fate suffered by yours on it. I hope you find a way to make use of some of that debris. The stumpery sounds like a great idea.
ReplyDeleteLOL, too much truth can be uncomfortable!
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ReplyDeleteWhat makes gardening so appealing to us? I ask myself that question all the time, but never more than when a storm wreaks havoc around here. What takes a gardener years to develop can be wiped out in just a few minutes. Just once I'd like to decide what gets flattened, frozen, or ripped out of the ground by Mother Nature, and I'm always amazed at how the scraggly stuff that I wouldn't miss remains intact. Oh, well, I guess I forgot the old margarine commercial, 'It's not nice to fool Mother Nature.' Now if she'd only stop fooling with us. I know you'll come up with some great new ideas, you always do. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat was a nasty storm. I like the idea of a stumpery. You can go there when you are feeling stumped.
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