It rained.
That may not seem terribly amazing to you, depending on where you live. Where I live, rainfall is pretty scarce in the summertime. And, yes, I do know that it’s September now, but summer isn’t done with us yet. Not by a long shot.
So, when rain is predicted at this time of year, we’re skeptical. Really skeptical. Oh, yeah, sure, the sky might cloud up a little. The sidewalks might get a little damp. But we’re not going to stop watering the outdoor plants.
And, rain was predicted this week. I was not particularly excited Tuesday evening, as I crawled into bed and pulled up the covers and went to sleep. Briefly. Then it really did rain. And, not just some rain. Enormously loud thunder, crackling lightening, and wind whipping rain against the windows. Really. It happened. Check the weather data .
I was so excited. I’d gone out a few days ago and scouted out all the pecan trees that were growing around the yard. Not, of course, trees that we had planted. Trees that had come up because the squirrels had planted them, back last fall. I’ve mentioned that before, I’m sure. When the pecans fall, in the autumn, squirrels pick them up and bury them, so that they will be able to get them in the dead of winter, for holiday feasting. But, because they are squirrels, and have teeny, tiny, little brains, they have NO IDEA where those tasty pecans are. So, when the springtime rains come, those pecans, which are, essentially pecan seeds, begin to sprout and grow. ALL. AROUND. THE. YARD. In flower beds. In potted plants. In the garden with all the thyme plants.
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- In a pot on the picnic table
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- Amid the lavender
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- With the liriope
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- Nestled under a cana plant
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- Next to the daisies
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- In the front flower bed
EV’RYWHERE!
And here you go–the beginnngs of several pecan trees, who will NOT live to see another day.
After the giant rainstorm in the early hours of Wednesday, and heavy and light rainfall all day, I was pretty sure that the ground was soggy. All Thursday morning, I checked to see if the rain had stopped. It was lighter, but still constant. Finally, mid-afternoon, no more rain. I put on my overalls, rushed out of the house, grabbed the Sharp-shooter shovel, and went to work. It was soooo easy. Quick work.
And, really, you can’t just clip those entrenched trees off at ground level. They are determined to LIVE! Those roots are pretty sturdy, and they’ll just keep on putting out leaves. You really have to dig them up. I did my best.
It’s an important matter from a foundation standpoint. Those little pecan saplings, if left to grow, will grow. If left unchecked, they’ll damage the foundation.
If only we could teach the squirrels to plant their pecans in appropriate places in the yard.
There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot …
Ecclesiastes 3:1,2 (Christian Standard Bible Translation)
If we lived in a cabin in a forest, then we could let lots of pecan trees grow. But we live in a house in a city, so we’re working to make good choices for our flora, without trying to make life harder for the furry fauna.