Thursday 24th August 2023
Deodar Cedar
Today we continued the work we started last Thursday; clearing around our beautiful specimen Deodar Cedar tree in the top car park.
A few more hours of cutting, strimming and clearing resulted in a very respectable result. The deodar has now emerged in its full glory, and along with the Blue Atlas Cedar opposite, makes a grand opening statement to arboretum visitors.
The cones are oozing a sticky resin-like sap. One presumes this is a repellant to those predatory squirrels and insects that would consume the maturing seeds inside the cones.
Little Jobs
Although most of the effort was directed towards our cedar. two other useful tasks were also performed. Firstly, the living willow tunnel has been putting on good growth during the last few weeks. Some weavig was necessary to tidy it up and maintain the correct growth pattern.
Secondly, now that our spring flowering planter has been cleared it has been looking rather empty and forlorn, I have been wondering what to do with it. Keith and Jenny to the rescue. They very generously purchased some pansies and brought them in to plant.
Clear the weeds, some of our own home grown compost and a bit of planting and we have a replenished planter bed. Thank you Jenny and Keith, and also to Kate who helped them in their efforts by ferrying supplies, and made a good job of weaving the willow.