Progress

Last weekend I got the final few pawpaws in the ground.  The task was easier since not all went into the woods - I gave 3 to Dan, a couple for my back yard, I planted 3 in Nancy's yard, 4 in a pot for grandma, and the rest in the woods.

I went over tonight to check on the plantation.  Weeded a lot in the black walnut section.  Two have already popped out above the tree shelters- very exciting.  The little Christmas trees are looking pretty good.  Only a few look like they won't make it.  Biggest problem is the mile-a-minute vine which is taking over the place.  

The pawpaws, on the other hand, aren't looking too good.  Only a few are budding out.  Maybe I'm expecting too much since they have only been in the ground two weeks.  

Pawpaws

The desire to plant trees, and be organic, and use native species burns on. And coincidentally my daughter has a passion for odd fruits and happens to think pawpaws are great (!). Well, pawpaws are a tree native to this area, with very few pests, and best of all they are an understory tree, which means they can grow in my forest!

I must say that I see this as a real opportunity for my ‘tree farm’ to get a few more trees in the system. And the state (where I got my walnut and fir seedlings) had an ‘end of planting season’ sale last week, including pawpaw seedlings. The bad news is that they sell them in minimum lots of 25, and the end of season sale is two-for-one. So here I am, committed to planting 50 more trees. It will undoubtedly be the largest pawpaw plantation in the entire state.

I’ve never had one and don’t think that I’ve ever seen one, but it's quite intriguing, and I hear it tastes like chicken. Jk, tastes like a banana-mango combo. On the other hand, the flowers are 'fetid smelling' in order to attract their main pollinator, the dung beetle. (are you grossed out?). I didn't even know we had dung beetles around here. They must fly in special due to the fragrant flowers (beauty is in the eye... or nose ... of the beholder?). The only place I've ever heard of dung beetles were in Africa in some National Geographic special. Perhaps they are all around us, but ... simply not discussed in polite circles? In any event, a most interesting plant!!!

The pawpaw seedlings arrived yesterday. Today I planted 28 of them.

The seedlings wake up!

Last weekend about 5 or 6 of the black walnut seedlings started bushing out inside their tree shelters - it was a thrilling moment for the nacent tree farmer. Somewhat like the first dollar from a paying customer, except not worth as much.

The trees look totally ridiculous inside the shelters, but from everything I've read, they should thrive.

Today I took another walk to the farm. We are in the middle of a solid week of rain - should be good for the trees. All the walnuts are leafing out except for about 8. That means 25 have survived this far, a 25% survival. From what I hear, that's not too bad, and there is still hope for the others.