Monday, May 30, 2011


This is a picture of the rain coming down in buckets yesterday! The cover is still on the pool. It is supposed to be coming off today around noon.
---------------------------------------------
Monday, May 30, 3011 - Memorial Day. We had a horrible thunderstorm yesterday....no, make that two intense systems that went through here in the late morning and again in the early afternoon dropping a total of 3.12 inches in Elburn.

I had planned to go into the cemetery to put some red, white and blue decorations on the boys' grave but had to wait until 4:30 before I could safely drive on the roads. Everything was flooded!!

I put two patriotic pinwheels in front of their evergreen trees. They already had the portable bleachers set up near the road by their trees. The pinwheels are cute and there's a lot of wind.

This morning, at 9 a.m., they were having the Memorial Day observance at Blackberry Cemetery as they have for many years. Bruce Conley always played Taps. I'm sure they'll play the tape of his rendition. He was the BEST.

They take such great care of our cemetery. It looks so perfect and beautiful. It's a very lovely, final resting place. God bless them all. djb

Saturday, May 28, 2011


Here's a picture of Annie Oaktree. It's not the one I really want to put in here but at least you can see how TALL she is.
------------------------------------------
Saturday, May 28, 2011 - You can find anything you want on the internet. Amazing, isn't it. When I looked for beneficial fungus for oak trees, this is what I found at treehelp.com:

Mycorrhizal Fungi -
Mycorrhizal fungi is a relatively new soil treatment for trees. Co-existing with trees and plants in nature for hundreds of millions of years, these beneficial fungi provide a "safety net" for the tree in times of stress. By colonizing the roots and extending themselves further into the soil, the fungi enable the tree to take in more nutrients and moisture. The result is a healthier, more robust tree better capable of withstanding the many stressful conditions that exist in an urban environment.

The term 'mycorrhizae' describes a symbiotic relationship between beneficial fungi and plants. Mycorrhizal fungi live in and around the roots of most plants. In exchange for sugars and simple carbohydrates, the mycorrhizal fungi absorb and pass on minerals and moisture required for the plant's growth.

In nature, mycorrhizal fungi are found on about 99% of plant species, but in urban environments, the poor, compacted soils often lack this essential fungi.

from: www.treehelp.com

------------------------------------

The other day, I dug 40 six-inch deep holes around the drip line of Annie Oaktree so I could put the mycorrhizal fungi in and cover it up and soak the earth around it.

I did the first watering and Mother Nature did the next one. Hopefully, the fungi is going to fix everything. But on Monday, I have to dig more holes in the ground to put in the fertilizer that is specific to oak trees.

It's going to be 90 degrees on Monday (the REAL Memorial Day). That should be a fun job. see ya later. djb

Friday, May 6, 2011


Andrew's white pine tree. He brought it home from school when he was in third grade. And look at it now!
-----------------------------------------------
Friday, May 6, 2011 - One of the main reasons that I wanted to have professional tree trimmers take care of the pruning job this spring was to clear the branches around Andrew's white pine tree so it can grow unimpeded.

A few years ago, I managed to chop off a few branches here and there on that offending maple but I don't have a tall enough ladder to reach the higher branches. Probably a good thing.

I love trees. And I love flowers. I'm beginning to like grass a little bit. But I HATE quack-grass. And for some reason, it likes to grow near the road in the front yard. yuk!!!

The only way to get rid of it is to kill it with noxious chemicals, wait a while and then plant some grass. Actually not a bad idea. haha Now, it's really time to skedaddle. later, djb

P.S. Word to the Wise: NEVER, EVER, EVER plant zoysia grass. It turns brown in the winter and looks ugly, uglier, ugliest!!!! (although it is soft underfoot....)