I am thinking lofty thoughts today. I’m thinking that when you plant a tree, you plant for the future. In my case, a tree that I plant could live until long after I’m gone.
I love trees. Today I planted a tree. It’s not fair to say that since my husband did all the hard work. I have some projects that he can see coming. He knows he’s going to have to volunteer to do the hard labor.
I bought a little coffee tree in a two-inch pot about a year ago. It’s been thriving in my kitchen window, but now it’s too big. It’s too big for its pot and it’s getting too big to be a house plant.
A day or so ago I dug a big hole outside for my little tree. I discarded the dirt I dug out and filled it with potting mix, top dressing, fertilizer, all sorts of nummies. I watered it well and went inside to wait for the water to soak in.
When I told my husband about my project, he said “The gophers will eat the roots.” Nasty gophers. “The rabbits are eating every green thing in sight.” Cute little weed/plant eating rodents, rabbits are. They get you with their soft fur and big eyes while they eat and eat and eat.
At this point my husband knows he shouldn’t have said anything. “Would you make a gopher cage for my little tree and leave it high so the rabbits can’t eat it?” There, I’ve included him in my project. He knows I can’t make a gopher cage myself. My hands aren’t strong enough to use the wire cutters.
The dear man did make the gopher cage for me and when he was done, he planted my coffee tree. I helped by creating a bit of shade with a plastic bag. This little tree has been growing in my house. Now it has to cope with sunshine.
Now I need to wish it luck and keep an eye on it. I’m hoping it will grow and be strong, but an amateur gardener doesn’t get everything she wishes for.
Marilynne
