There has been a subtle shift in the weather the last few days. It has become less ‘summery’, and more like fall. The high temperature today is forecast to be only 80F, with a low tonight of 51. The change is welcome, but we still need some rain. The latest front has gone through with not a single drop. We haven’t been able to buy a good rain all summer.
Still, hope springs eternal, and I have been busy planting for the fall and winter. I’ve got broccoli, cabbage, collards, kale and turnips planted outside.
turnip seedlings
Inside the greenhouse beds, I’ve got cucumbers, parsley, cilantro, chard and lettuce. At least rain isn’t an issue in there!
lettuce seedlings in greenhouse
Another thing falling this week was some trees. We called in Randy’s Tree Service to take down our elm that had succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease. They also removed a weeping cherry that borers had gotten, and a small clump of non-bearing American Persimmons that were in the way of other trees and kept sending up suckers all over the place, especially in the main vegetable garden where they competed with the veggies.
spot where elm used to be
And even though Joyce Kilmer wrote that only God can make a tree, Randy and his crew took down the giant elm in less than two hours. Now all that’s left is a pile of sawdust where they ground out the stump. I could barely stand to watch the whole operation. It will take some time to get used to the new look of the back yard.
elm dust
And that is all I have to say about all that.
What a bummer about your elm! My condolences!
Thanks Liza.
So sorry about your elm. A nearby friend has lost 2 this year. We have a beautiful maple in our backyard that is the dominant feature, and I will be crushed if we ever lost that tree, so I know what you mean.
I am thankful for the trees we have left. We have several large ones, including elm, mulberry, black cherry and a maple. We will have a nice sunny spot now, it’s just going to take some adjustment.
No rain through summer is the norm here. Our fog was so thick some mornings though it looked like rain! I’m a bit behind you, but hoping to get my turnips seeded out this weekend. I’m sorry the elm has finally gone. Perhaps a new beginning though, have you thought about what you might do there instead? A new tree perhaps? A chicken coop? 😛
Sorry to hear about the Elm tree.
I’m sorry to hear about your tree. One of my majors is Forestry, and this disease has been a major topic of my classes. Having an impressive tree like that taken down is devastating, but removing infected trees is one of the best methods to prevent the spread of the disease.
What a shame the old Elm tree had to be destroyed. I remember earlier posts about this old beauty — reminds me of “The Giving Tree”, a book purchased for my sons and read many many times.