planting

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

Well, in about 3o days I will be deep in planting 10,000 Douglas Fir, 1,000 Pondarosa Pine and Western Red Alder, if Ican get my hands on about as 1,000.

[Kirk Allen]

Are those for your tree farm?  Sure wish we had the size trees you guys do.  Did you take any pics of the whoppers you unloaded with the Bulldoazer?

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

Yes, the plantings are all for our Tree Farm and the pictures were taken. I began the third 18' log to be sawed, this afternoon. I only got about a third of the way through and the darkness was setting.  I had to stoke the kiln furnace and set the heat for the shop building as it is to get down around a cool 22 degrees this evening.  I then had to empty some hoses and pressure washer lines; then  head for the house and stoke the Taylor for the house.

[Kirk Allen]

Sounds about like the weather here.  Supposed to get down to 10 Saturday. 

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

I did a run around with the Gator today.  I am really worried for the ten thousand trees I had planted and this really early hot weather. 

[Kirk Allen]

Might need to set up an industrial size sprinkler to get them some water.

[caryr]

Or put a tank in the gator and water the ones with a S/SW exposure. The ones that didn't get tamped down right may not make it, but I'm guessing the rest will. There's still a lot of moisture in the ground.

Good luck with your babies!

Cary

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

Good idea, Cary.  I do have a container I can put in the gator or a couple of 250 gallon tanks on as trailer and pull down the trails with the tractor. 

[Kirk Allen]

I recall some of the slopes you have as pretty steep so make sure you got good breaks hauling that much water

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

Well, we are getting some good showers around here this morning and I hope that it will be enough over the next few days to put off any real losses to the new seedlings.

[Kirk Allen]

I lost two of the Douglas Firs you sent to the rascially rabbits! 

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

I would be making my wife a new coat real quick.

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

The days have stayed cool but windy.  I do not like the wind, as it can be very drying as well.  There have been a number of times that we have had some spotty misting that lasts for a half hour or so, but no real rain to speak of.  The wind is blowing around 10 to 15 miles an hour right now and very cool.

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

Well. some moderate rains came in last night and gave my trees a nice drink of mother natures moisture.  It is still slightly raining this morning and am I happy. 

[joasis]

How much will they grow the first year Frank? Double in height?

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

No Jay, they amy just barely put on a couple two or three inches in height.  It will take a couple three years for them to begin to really put on some height growth

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

Sad news.  I did a walkabout the last couple of dry days and I have a mortality rate,much higher than I had dreamed would happen.  I am looking at a rate of about 30 percent, right now.