Volume #59/ The Rainforest Spring!

Morn'n all,
Clicked...........

Have a nice weekend!

g'day all ~

clicked

Morning all, clicked.

Will do some research on birch, but later. Outside for now.

ehBeth--

I hate to sentence anyone to tedious calculations--but if I felt all that guilty, I'd do it myself--but every so often could you provide a how-we-did for the last day or last week or last month?

Rainforest 59
Holy Moly,
I thought I'd lost you all. Missed five whole pages and all of ebeth's photos. Did anybody else have trouble getting on or was it just the move of my 'puter upstairs and the flood the following day? Anyway, I'll go back and pick up the loose threads in a bit. Have to go click.

Jeesh, pwayfarer, you and I do have our computer problems, don't we?

sumac, checked the birch more throughly, <not finding bugs or damage to leafs> and also there is new growth, the only other problem could be some sort of root obstruction. Not sure the age of the tree, but i'd say because of the size of the bark, probably 5-7 yrs old. Also, the lawn area <where the birch was planted> is near the larger cement driveway.

Will check again when the weather clears. The birch recovers slightly during dry weather, but soon as the rains begin, the tree says eek and begins drooping. Guess I'll have to wait for warmer weather and sufficient water drainage before I can diagnose the problem. <sigh>

rainforest
Hi Sumac. I think our computers are trying to tell us something. It could be we form a Luddite community of two.

I'm having a sad bird problem- sad to me, at least since my neighbor tells me the bird is completely happy. For the past twelve days, there has been a solitary cowbird appearing at various windows. Sitting there, cheeping, moving off to go to the seeds I provide for him. One bird store assured me his behavior was territorial, but it just didn't compute. I keep telling "my" bird that he's got to stop flirting will me and go follow the rest of the other cowbirds who have departed with the buffalo herd.I finally called Mass Audubon yesterday and talked to the head honcho. He said that the behavior was weird since cowbirds are NOT territorial and that he's not trying to frighten off an imaginary rival reflected in the glass. He said that he probably really does want to come inside to eat all the bugs in my house (?) and that his survival strategy is (he didn't say it, I did) for the birds.And because of that, sad as it may be, he is at "a genetic dead end". No more cowbird progeny of his, mooning around, instead of moving on with the herd.
I'm assuming you know that cowbirds lay their eggs in other bird's nest because they are "remembering" their ancient routine of following the buffalo herds and not having time to stop and sit.
Oh, it's sad,sad,sad! My poor cowbird!

Sumac, Stradee, pwayfarer -- I'm part of that Luddite community, too. Have to reboot this thing from time to time or it won't let me play.

I have clicked. And now I'd like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all the moms on this thread. Salud!

ARTIST: Stuart Stotts
TITLE: Music in My Mother's House
Lyrics


There were windchimes in the widow, bells inside the clock
An organ in the corner, tunes in the music box
We sang while we were cooking, or working in the yard
We sang although our lives were really hard

{Refrain}
There was music in my mother's house
There was music all around
There was music in my mother's house
And my heart still feels full with the sound

She taught us all piano, but my sister had the ear
She could play the harmony to any tune she'd hear
Now I don't claim much talent, but I've always loved to play
And I guess I will until my dying day

{Refrain}

Those days come back so clearly, although I'm far away
She gave me the kind of gift I love to give away
And when my mother died, and she'd sung her last song
We sat in the living room, singing all night long

Singing la la la, la la
Singing the front porch songs
Singing the old torch songs
Singing the hymns to send her home

{Refrain}

Lovely, Sumac. Thanks, Merry. Reflecting on my children, all grown up with kids of their own. Even with great sorrows, I think of how fortunate I am to have such wonderful sons.

Wish you knew what kind of birch you had. My source, my huge manual (of sorts), is Michael Dirr's "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses". Your telling me that it was planted answers a couple of my questions.

All birch are susceptiple to bronze birch borers and leaf miners. White-bark birches aren't necessarily White Birches. Since it was planted semi-recently, presumably it might have been acquired from a local nursery, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc. You might see what the local trade and nurserymen have around in their lots.

Or, contact your local extension agent (take a photo when it droops and says eek!) and ask them. You will find them in your phone book under whatever county you reside in.

The interesting clues that you provide, wet and cement driveway, bear further thought. Cement leaches lime - making the soil more basic, rather than acidic. Most birches prefer moist, but well-drained, slightly sandy, acidic soil.

A great many birches also prefer slightly cooler temperatures than you may have. See, for instance, Betula papyrifera, B. pendula, and B. populifolia, which prefer (for hardiness and optimal performance) zones 2-6 (7 in certain ecological systems).

pwayfarer,

Yes, I can understand how your out of synch cow bird might distress you. More intelligent behavior than the normal herd instinct, and doomed (from a genetic point of view). How very un-Darwinian.

sumac, lovely poem ~ and to all Moms wishing you a Happy day of joy and wonderful memories.

Stradee,

More thinking about your birch. Since only one was planted, it may have been picked more for its specimen, focal point value, than anything else. Any chance that you have one of the pendulous forms of B. pendula?

sumac, the birch is a white, single bark variety tree. Perhaps the weather has much to do with the trees condition - location, etc. There were originally two of the same variety of trees planted.

A bit more local research, finding the photo to post here, and hopfully find a solution for the trees droopyness. No distinguishable disease apparent though. Bringing samples to local nursery on the agenda also.

European White Birch, Sliver Birch. < Betula pendula > are not good landscape trees <the link page cites> and suseptable to the two <miner and borer> diseases you mentioned.

Shoot! Poor tree will probably have to be chopped down!

Hi all,

I'm with Merry, Stradee and the rest in wishing all who qualify a very Happy Mother's Day...........

My brother, living in Texarkana, TX, and I - with families - took our 90 yr old Mom out for an evening meal last night. We went to my (our) cousins restaurant (The Five D's Cattle Ranch) in Avinger, TX. She certainly liked it and all had a great time.

Well, (singing to the Wiz of Oz tune) I'm off to click the puter, the wonderful puter of rain forest.

I know, but, it's close.... grin

No, it is not a good choice for the landscape here, and hopefully that is not what you have.

Back from a long weekend with the hamburgers - hamburger's 75th on Friday, and Mother's Day today. Lots of good walks and talks with the hamburgers and my pupsters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


You and your 283 friends have supported 1,834,110.7 square feet!

Marine Wetlands habitat supported: 38,177.6 square feet.
You have supported: (0.0)
Your 283 friends have supported: (38,177.6)

American Prairie habitat supported: 34,688.1 square feet.
You have supported: (9,831.9)
Your 283 friends have supported: (24,856.2)

Rainforest habitat supported: 1,761,244.9 square feet.
You have supported: (160,442.3)
Your 283 friends have supported: (1,600,802.7)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well,

God bless the hamburgers, ehBeth.

And,

A very Happy Mother's Day Mrs Hamburger.