Decisions, Decisions

I never know what project I'll start on...I've so many left undone, so when something sparks my interest, I pick up where I left off and start working.

Jeff told me to take it easy today since I'd apparently pulled a muscle in my abdomen while moving logs a few days ago. He told me not to lift anything heavy...so, I didn't. Instead, I pulled thick roots out of the ground by hand...and with a pick. Probably not the best choice, but when deciding what to work on, it is hard to hold off on a project that is calling to me. I ended up clearing most of the invasive Oriental bittersweet that a previous owner had planted along a fence remnant. This stuff has really begun to take over in the past two years. I'd hoped it was the American bittersweet, and if it was, I'd have moved a piece or two into the hedgerow where it could fight for its niche there away from the house and my other plantings...but this invasive one will not have a chance to out compete the natives trees and shrubs I'm putting there.

These vines strangle and girdle young trees never allowing natural succession to take place. I found this wrapped around what I think are young black walnut trees. I'm hoping to transplant them as leaving them there would change my plan for meadow and bluebird habitat. There is a small oak nearby that I will let grow to maturity..but the two black walnuts were to close to it and would create more of a woodland. I'm hoping the lone oak will create more of an oak savanna that will allow for the field wildflowers to continue to grow...and be open enough for the bluebirds to continue nesting here. The oak must've sprouted the first year we were here, so it will be a long time before I have to worry whether an oak savanna will work or not. :) I could've tried to relocate the oak as well, but I like the look of a mature oak tree growing out in the open. The others I have will be part of the woodland.

Surprisingly, the roots pulled up pretty easily...aside from having good loose soil, I think the freezing and thawing this time of year always seems to help. I've been able to remove the invasive bush honeysuckles by wrenching them out of the ground late winter and early spring as well.

White Oak

Although, I like oaks in general, my favorite is the white oak--there is something about the leaf...and the mature tree as well. A few years ago--before I started this blog, I think--I bought and planted a three foot tall white oak seedling. The first year, as it was leafing out, we had a late FREEZE--I figured it would not need protection, but found most of its tender leaves dead from the freeze. (Oaks are hard woods that are some of the last to leaf out...the other trees already full of leaves were fine.

The oak sent out leaves a second time from auxiliary buds...the following year it leafed out again--and again we had an unusual freeze late spring. Again, it leafed out a second time--I'm sure this drained its energy. The following year (last spring)the three foot seedling didn't leaf out and the wood was dead. I'd given up on it. However, last week I spotted a small branch from the bottom of the trunk with viable buds! Needless to say I was thrilled.

Today, I saw a white oak leaf blown in from somewhere nearby--I was thrilled to see that there are some nearby and they may make their way to our woods. If not, there is still hope for the one I bought. I tucked the leaf I found at the base of my seedling.

(I'm *guessing* that the acorns I planted are red oak...I'll know more if they germinate. There is also a young, medium-sized red oak on the property...so, I won't have to wait TOO long for acorns of our own.)

Acorn

One of the acorns I planted in my "Acorns to Oaks" post...I covered it with some leaves to help hide it in case something might eat it:

Acorns to Oaks

Today I picked up some acorns that were starting to sprout. I planted them around the woodland and hedgerow.