Last of the Potatoes. These should have been dug as new potatoes for Christmas Dinner but we were so fat we couldn't eat anymore
Today was the Washington Chain Saw Massacre. I removed seven fruit trees from the front of the property. I have duplicates of two, as miniatures. It made me a little sad but it was necessary. I can't take care of them any more. Without care, they are not very productive and leave a mess to clean up. Im planning on removing 5 or 6 or 7 more, once the branches are cleaned up from the ones I already cut. That will leave at least two sweet cherries, two tart cherries, two paw paws, a peach tree, and a couple of plum trees. That's more than enough, and there are also some in the kitchen garden and side yard.
Aww @Daniel W I know exactly what you mean. Down sizing our garden after years of planning collecting , maintaining and growing fav plants to let them go is almost like a mourning process. It’s a lot of work and takes determination and it’s a very tough decision to follow thru. In the long run it’s a total change of our garden lives as we once knew it for many years. It’s sad and it’s a relief at the same time .
@Pacnorwest you are right about all of that. I try to look at it as the continued, guided, evolution of my garden. The fruit trees were always meant to be experimental, to learn which grow the best and produce what I like the most, Really, it completely makes sense to take out the ones that don't perform in my garden, or I don't like. There will be a lot less of, "I need to prune those even though I don't feel like it", "there are so many fruits to thin out, I can't do it all", "I need to protect those fruits from insects and birds", "what do I do now with all of those ripe fruits" and more of being able to fully enjoy the ones I kept. I'm trying to view it as being like the stages a forest goes through, from meadow to mature forest. This is the time of year to do it. Not too many tasks otherwise (though there are still a lot), and not too hot outside. (sorry, I meant to post all of this in the "what did you do today in the garden" thread )
Daniel luv the way you have managed your garden . Carefull evaluations while downsizing especially since your garden always has a productive harvest . You are far more than capable to grow anything you set your mind to. It’s not always about what we can grow and fill in the entire space available . But more about how we can enjoy our gardens and learn the importance of self care as we age. It’s a balance of the power of nature vs the power of aging. You Got this.
