Consolidated Kansas

[Ivywoods]

Hawkeye-The problem with your pin oak was most likely iron chlorosis. It is very common with many types of red oak trees, especially pin oaks. I know we had tons of problems with it in Saline county, but it doesn't seem to be a problem here in Brown county. I'm not sure about your area. The heart of the problem lies with soil that is somewhat alkaline. It makes it so the tree is unable to utilize enough iron from the soil. It can be treated, but it's a real P.I.T.A. To avoid the problem, get an oak tree that is in the "white oak" family. They do not have the same problems.

Well, I took a bunch of pictures tonight. I forgot to put the memory card in the camera.

I can't find a cort to connect the camera to the computer, nor can I figure out how to transfer them from the camera memory to the card, so I may just have to take more pics tomorrow.

 

[Ivywoods]

Oh, another thing about trees. Your city forrester or the extension office should have a "recommended tree list" for your area. Sometimes your nurseries that sell a lot of trees will have a copy, too. It's a good place to start when selecting trees.

 

[Hawkeye95]

We may have found an opportunity for moving out to the country, sort of. There are neighbors, but also some space. We love the property, but aren't so crazy about the house. Yes, we could probably do a lot with it. I do love the house we're in. We spent a lot of time and money working on it and the yard, and both are beautiful. We would have to put some money into the house to sell it (floors have seen better days and there's no shower, just a tub). But I'm also picturing what I could do with that acre. Big garden, fruit trees, some more chickens, flowers. Right now we keep going back and forth trying to see if it feels right and if we think we could afford it AND the improvements needed. I'm freaking right out. You'd think I'd be thrilled since this has been a bit of a fantasy for me, but now all I can think about is how do I know if it's the right thing to do? What do I think I'm doing considering so much work when I'm almost 48 and still dealing with a back problem that I'm not sure will get any better than this? What if it ends up costing more than we think it will? What if ..........

It sounds like you probably need to make a pro and con list and decide what needs to be done to the new place, etc. If it helps, I wasn't at all hesitant about buying our property. An acre really isn't really too bad. It's big enough to get your fruit trees and gardens and have some fun! But it shouldn't be too terrible to mow and try to maintain. The house is another thing-- if you don't really love it, then that could be a problem. Just think of it this way--- if someone else buys it, would you regret it forever? If not, then maybe you need to keep looking?? I'm guessing as it gets closer to Boeing shutting down and with all the up coming layoffs with the other aerospace co's that more properties will be on the market.

Hawkeye and anyone else that is interested in some, I have some Catalpa seeds that I would send to you. I stripped some seed pods early this spring thinking I would scatter some along the pasture fence hoping some would grow and make some shade. I didn't get it done so I have a bunch. I don't know if they will still grow, but there is the offer. The catalpa's are blooming now and they look and smell heavenly.

The seeds are thin and very light weight. A bunch would go in a regular envelope, so no problem on shipping. In the fall, there are usually a ton of black walnuts all over under the 9 trees I have. They would be heavy though and I don't know if the ones out there now would grow. Send a PM if you are interested.

I wrote on my facebook page asking for anyone who had little seedlings growing in their yard to let me know-- and I had someone respond that a whole bunch were popping up in his gardens! So I'll be out digging his up! So excited! So I probably don't need the seeds, but thank you so much for that offer! But black walnuts--- now, that is awesome! I forget where you are located! But that might be fun to dig up and plant here!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye-The problem with your pin oak was most likely iron chlorosis. It is very common with many types of red oak trees, especially pin oaks. I know we had tons of problems with it in Saline county, but it doesn't seem to be a problem here in Brown county. I'm not sure about your area. The heart of the problem lies with soil that is somewhat alkaline. It makes it so the tree is unable to utilize enough iron from the soil. It can be treated, but it's a real P.I.T.A. To avoid the problem, get an oak tree that is in the "white oak" family. They do not have the same problems.

Well, I took a bunch of pictures tonight. I forgot to put the memory card in the camera.

I can't find a cort to connect the camera to the computer, nor can I figure out how to transfer them from the camera memory to the card, so I may just have to take more pics tomorrow.

oh wow!! I bet that is what the problem was!! It never died, but it never grew and it was always trying to die on us. It was such a relief after fighting with it for 3 years to just dig the darned thing up and trash it. I'll have to research what varieties are in the white oak family. Our soil is heavy clay, and it is indeed alkaline, we've fought with it and tried to amend it and now we just work with it. So long as I plant native trees, all seems to work out well. Any ideas why I can't get Colorado Blue Spruce to live??? If this 4th one doesn't live, I give up!!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Okay, I did get out and took a picture of my 4 week old chick. Avert your eyes! LOL She is in her ugly duck stage, for sure!

Here she (he) is with lots of attitude: ...already showing off her curves and bumping her chest out! hehe

 

[Trish44]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be nasty earlier. I can't explain on here, but HeChicken knows why. Hawkeye, it must be your soil. I have my blue spruce on the north west side of my backyard, but it is sheltered by a mulberry tree. I love all kinds of trees except hedge & cottonwoods. I have planted quite a few trees att my place too.

We're on the road on our way back. The tooth looks good, he did a great job. It's been a fairly good day except for leaving. My granddaughter just sobbed when she had to leave her daddy. It about broke my heart & it made me cry too.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be nasty earlier. I can't explain on here, but HeChicken knows why. Hawkeye, it must be your soil. I have my blue spruce on the north west side of my backyard, but it is sheltered by a mulberry tree. I love all kinds of trees except hedge & cottonwoods. I have planted quite a few trees att my place too.
We're on the road on our way back. The tooth looks good, he did a great job. It's been a fairly good day except for leaving. My granddaughter just sobbed when she had to leave her daddy. It about broke my heart & it made me cry too.

I wasn't sure how to take your post, so left it alone.

Maybe it is my soil, I think it's pretty cruddy stuff. It's not really all that great. Well, if that's the case, I probably gave this new Co blue spruce the death sentence. Too bad, I sure love those trees. OH and cottonwoods-- our neighbors entire 5 acres is packed with them, so they go and stuff their cotton into our AC and then it causes problems. Glad your grand daughter's tooth looks great, but that is terribly sad that she was so upset at having to leave her daddy. That really is heartbreaking. It's a shame they can't see each other more.

 

[sharol]

I'm so sorry for your loss. When our 23 year old cat died after a long illness, our shorthair pointer came to get us and took us to her, too. I think animals form alliances if not friendships.

Sharol

***big snip***

Her sister, Scramble (a month younger, acquired at the same place/time) came to tell me when she died. I know that sounds like anthropomorphizing but she came to me being VERY vocal and seemed anxious for me to check it out. I knew instantly she started talking to me, that Henrietta had passed, and as soon as I went into the coop to check on her, Scramble stopped vocalizing and has been quiet every since.

The cycle of life. One hen dies and another decides its time to be a mama, all on the same day. RIP Henrietta.

 

[sharol]

OMG. overload of cuteness. And I don't even particularly like silkies.

Okay, I did get out and took a picture of my 4 week old chick. Avert your eyes! LOL She is in her ugly duck stage, for sure!

Here she (he) is with lots of attitude: ...already showing off her curves and bumping her chest out! hehe

 

[HEChicken]

The tooth looks good, he did a great job. It's been a fairly good day except for leaving. My granddaughter just sobbed when she had to leave her daddy. It about broke my heart & it made me cry too.

Glad you were able to take care of that for her. Years ago my DS broke a large chunk off one of his front teeth. It was one of those "boy things" where they just don't think about what *might* happen when they do something. I took him to the dentist and I can't remember what the procedure was called but it involved basically using epoxy to glue on a piece that made the tooth look whole. She warned that it might only last two years. Two months later it fell off when he was brushing his teeth and we decided his chipped tooth adds character and if he wants it permanently fixed when he's grown, we'll worry about it then, but it was too expensive a procedure to have to redo every two months! I hope what your granddaughter had done is a better fix. So sad she can't see her daddy so often....

Okay, I did get out and took a picture of my 4 week old chick. Avert your eyes! LOL She is in her ugly duck stage, for sure!

Here she (he) is with lots of attitude: ...already showing off her curves and bumping her chest out! hehe

Oh my, he or she is just the cutest thing. I've never seen a silkie chick in person - is it as obvious when they are losing their baby fluff and growing in big girl feathers as it is with regular feathered birds?