Coaxing Back Her Youth--part 3

He can hardly wait until she blossoms.  We talked about the best part of bringing a tree back to life. Tyler was certain that it was hardly the shape, the fruit, or the shade.  It is, instead, the blossom time--spring, when she will blush with her own enthusiasm over the scent of the season.

So we will wait for the buds, the leaves, the flowers, the petals falling when a passing breeze admires this apple tree's new pink dress.  There may be few blossoms this first year as the tree finds her balance, but they will glorious in their freedom.

Before

Tyler has completed the major structural work, and, for now, the pruning and cutting are finished.  In a couple of weeks, the ends of some of the branches will be finessed. The now-bare arms will soon sprout strong, lush green. But  it won't be until next year that she will be really pretty. Handsome and shapely are enough for the present.*

After.  The stream is now free to flow.
Vines on the banks are part of the contracted clean up: work in progress

Before (side view)

After--crowbar will help us take off the last
of the ivy

I've been on the ground organizing and cleaning up--the only Things I get to do today--all the debris, branches, and trunks that were removed from Dame Apple.  It took all day, it required considerable effort, it was closer to "work" than "plark", but it pleased me very much to do it.  Gifting wood will be on tomorrow's list of Things. . . 

Many sweet fires with the chiminea 

For the yard debris bin or the chipper

Great for the fireplace

Excellent for smoking meats, I hear

*Epilogue will follow.

Coaxing Back Her Youth

My chickens are sitting in the shade.  It's not hot out.  They'd prefer a warm, sunny spot, but there are none to be found in their pen.  Poor chickens!

Hidden in the mass of ivy, blackberries, and nightshade is an apple tree.

Along side our property is a city right-of-way that is disguised as a drainage ditch.  Recent habitat restoration work has cleared much of the blackberry bramble and other invasive vines from its steep banks.  But an ancient, forever-untended apple tree has wandered up in all directions, bound and gagged by ivy and nightshade.  This mass/mess shades my chickens--and my garden beds.  Additionally, there's still some beauty in that apple tree that longs to be uncovered like an old hag in a folk talk who is transformed into a lovely princess.

Seen sideways, the tree shows a trunk.

The Things I get to do today are watch my arborist skillfully begin finding the dignity of this grand dame hidden under the vines and bring him coffee to keep warm in the gusting wind.  It will take several days, as he removes the wrist-sized ropes to find the trunks, and then calls forth the most elegant shape possible from their configuration.  As I watch, it is comforting to know that the demolition and debris are all part of the process, will be tended in their own time, and that all is well, even now.  Creative destruction it is called--an essential piece in moving toward balance, beauty and elegance.

Arborist removing chocking vegetation and beginning to shape the tree

The chain saw snarls through random arms, leaving those whose reach has hope of some purpose.  I love the process.  It has the flavor of organizing a room, rearranging the furniture, cleaning out a closet. Things get oh-so-much-worse before they get better.  And the better is bliss.  Join us for the ride there. (To be continued.)