My Hermit Haven

July 29, 2023

Good morning on this beautiful Saturday morning.

Looks like we are coming into the best weather of the year today, so great! Temps are supposed to be between 50-75 all this coming week, so we'll be quite a bit more comfortable sans air conditioning. 

Plant talk today will be the story of two tiny trees.

Approximately 5 years ago, I bought two additional stone pines for the Vermont property. I had this vision that they would grow big and beautiful and strong, and shade the root cellar somewhat. I put them in two half-whiskey barrels, flanking a weeping Mulberry (also in a half-whiskey barrel). The two pines down below that I'd already had for a few years (also in half-whiskey barrels), didn't seem bothered by anything, so I thought maybe these would not be, either. Unfortunately, even though I know the Deer come right down in the yard there, these three trees got chomped, repeatedly. Who can figure out why they would bother these and not the others? Proximity perhaps? Or the age of the trees? We know that they love the tender young bark and branches and leaf tips of the baby trees, but why would they bother these and not the ones closer to the house? I mean, it's only a matter of feet, really. It's so strange to me, but not to them, I guess. It is a bit more isolated from view up there in the back of the property, but we can still see it from the house, so that seems an illogical assumption....well, I just don't know, so I pulled these poor little stragglers out last time I was there, and brought them here, where I can tend them a little easier. I will be building hardware cages for them, before I leave this fall. 

They look very stunted, but I have learned with trees, that if they have a stout and robust root ball, and even the minimal foliage, they can survive almost anything; so I never chuck trees out, no matter how bedraggled they may look up top. I once read in the book: "What do Trees Talk About?" that most of the essence of a tree is actually underground, and all  we usually see is the top 1/3 of the tree. I find that utterly fascinating and an alert to all we tend to miss, as humans. 

I have another fascinating story of a plum tree I planted in Vermont; but that is a story for another day....so back to the matter at hand. 

I bought these Stone pines from One Green World (out in Oregon), when shipping prices were still reasonable (pre-pandemic), and they weren't exactly cheap, so I am invested in rejuvenating them and watching them make a healthy comeback. If they do revive, they will likely bear pinenuts before the other (older) ones, because they will likely have a much stauncher resilience. I also read in that same book, that some trees can and do, produce and send out toxins to prevent further nibbling on their tips. I am not sure if this species does that, but I just know in my bones that if they make it, they will be quite fruitful. 

I also read in Samuel Thayers new tome, that Sweet Fern likes to have red pine as a buddy, and even though we cannot grow red pine here, I am hoping that the lone Comptonia will like the stone pines flanking it. I mean, I fully realize that they are only distantly related, but It's the best I can do, so I pray that it's enough. 

Well, on that note, here are the two very small stone pines; I cannot remember exactly, but I believe they were/are called: Korean Stone Pine, I couldn't say for sure without looking up the records....

The little chunks of things hanging on them are small squares of Irish Spring Soap. I know some folks think that is an old wives tale (mostly just the young prigs), but I have found that not only does it keep the Deer from noshing, but it acts as a soap spray for bugs. If you string one around the top of each branch and also at the top of the tree, whenever it rains, the soap dissolves and runs down the stems and coats the leaves. Some ends up on the ground, which acts to control the ground pests (after all, nobody likes a faceful or mouthful of Irish Spring), I swear. lol So, you are getting a triple whammy of protection for not very much money and only a little time, invested.  Since I've lately had more time then money, it works well, for me. I will circle around and take follow-up photos in a future blog...so stay tuned. 

On that note, I will close with: Be Kind, always.