What (tree-wise) have you recently learned?

[Stumpsprouts]

Spring is such an amazing time, especially if you have a little more time to watch and see how trees emerge from dormancy. (Taking care of my 4 month old son, Catkin, has given me a lot of opportunities for slow walks)

This Acer pennsylvanicum goosefoot / striped maple next to my driveway has the most amazing little flowers, and I’d never noticed them before. Also, it’s always been on my short list of understory landscape trees and for those who are in its range, I hope it’s on your list too.

Countless other small deepening into relationships with species here. I planted a Bur oak and swamp white oak, neither of which I’ve climbed or worked on or seen much. I also went to a grafting workshop, and have a new appreciation for the power of Bradford as a rootstock, and for folks who can successfully graft.

Anyway just wanted to have a positive conversation with folks I respect so please, let me know what you’ve been excited about.

Not to mention doing 25 CEU quizzes on ISA this week is a little mind numbing and I’d love the distraction.

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

Countless other small deepening into relationships with species here. I planted a Bur oak and swamp white oak, neither of which I’ve climbed or worked on or seen much. I also went to a grafting workshop, and have a new appreciation for the power of Bradford as a rootstock, and for folks who can successfully graft.

Could you elaborate on your appreciation for “Bradford?” Are you referring to a Bradford Pear tree?

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Could you elaborate on your appreciation for “Bradford?” Are you referring to a Bradford Pear tree?

Yes, apparently it is fantastic root stock to graft desirable pears onto. So if you take one down, you can graft some pears onto the stump, or volunteer seedlings, or stump sprouts.

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

Bradford pear trees are an invasive species in Northern Indiana. They bear seed before the native trees in the area and are taking over the landscape. They have such poor structure that they inevitably tear themselves apart. I remove hundreds of them every year. The city of South Bend, IN literally passed legislation last year banning them from being planted.

I honestly know very little about grafting, but I do know that I don’t like Bradford Pears. I’m going to do some research on this grafting you’re talking about. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Njdelaney]

Yes, apparently it is fantastic root stock to graft desirable pears onto. So if you take one down, you can graft some pears onto the stump, or volunteer seedlings, or stump sprouts.

If you're on Instagram you should follow @Elizapples. She does a lot of grafting of pears especially. She also does a lot of cool other cool stuff too.

 

[Bart_]

My neighbour's son has a 4 month old too and has that Life is Great look going. Congratulations and enjoy every moment.

Learned from an old Italian guy fruit tree grafting. Secret ingredient was electrical tape to seal the bark/joint moisture and it holds gentle pressure and will expand with initial growth.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

My neighbour's son has a 4 month old too and has that Life is Great look going.

Any tips on how to keep a youngin having that ‘life is great look?’

 

[Vicente]

Bradford pear trees are an invasive species in Northern Indiana. They bear seed before the native trees in the area and are taking over the landscape. They have such poor structure that they inevitably tear themselves apart. I remove hundreds of them every year. The city of South Bend, IN literally passed legislation last year banning them from being planted.

I honestly know very little about grafting, but I do know that I don’t like Bradford Pears. I’m going to do some research on this grafting you’re talking about. Thanks for sharing.

I was reading the article about this in the tci magazine kind of interesting, I hope they don't take off like that here.

 

[Bart_]

Purge your mind of thinking you actually require sleep. Then look at your kid. All good.

 

[evo]

I just watched a flowering cherry (one of the double flower kind) this season. A very one sided edge tree crown on the north facing side of the road aka crown to the north, which is east/west in valley. The thing was in full flower, and leaves were nearly fully developed but still like young lettuce texture.
It was getting a smidge floppy, then we had a 2” rainstorm throughout the whole day, the whole thing flopped over like a half cooked noodle overhanging the road. Just barely passable!
It’s been a few days like that, and today is the second day of semi warmish partly sunny weather since. There is a small poof of flowers on the ground but it’s now more than half way up from its previous state.
I’m not shitting you, it was like the tree was one giant wilted flower for a few days, and it’s now nearly vertical a few days since.
Here, here,for noodling light deprived saturated mutant cherries.

 

[evo]

Any tips on how to keep a youngin having that ‘life is great look?’

Sugar.. and keep it coming.. or NO SUGAR, and ample attention but let them explore on their own. Just be sure to ‘keep busy’ near by, so they can have that attention right back.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

I’m not shitting you, it was like the tree was one giant wilted flower for a few days, and it’s now nearly vertical a few days since.
Here, here,for noodling light deprived saturated mutant cherries.

I’ve seen a black locust do something similar. Kind of insane!

Sugar.. and keep it coming.. or NO SUGAR, and ample attention but let them explore on their own. Just be sure to ‘keep busy’ near by, so they can have that attention right back.

Seems like good advice. Will likely avoid the processed sugars as long as possible. We do have raspberries, serviceberries, blueberries, mulberries, strawberries and wine berries growing at our spot.. that’s going to put a smile on his face I think.