This is one of my tree-planting success stories. This is one of the redbuds Libby and I had planted three years ago because I thought -- grossly incorrectly it turned out -- that we did not have any redbud trees growing at Roundrock. As I visited my plantings I found that I had to push aside existing redbuds to have a look at the ones I had planted.
We planted these just up from what will (WILL!) one day be the shoreline of Lake Marguerite. My hope was that in some future spring, the purplish-pink flowers that glow on these trees would be reflected in the water of the lake lapping so close to their roots.
Most of them died, of course. (We had also planted 25 dogwood sticks, and none of those survived.) But we put a blue flag where we had planted each, and as I stumble along and come upon a blue flag, I stop to see if any trace of our effort is beside it.
Actually, I haven't done a census of these redbuds, but my statement that most had died is probably incorrect. I'd guess, based on my informal ramblings, that most of them have actually hung on, and a few seem to be thriving. There are three on Libby's Island that are doing especially well.
You can see that the odds are against these babies. Not only do they face competition from the tall grasses that favor the spots we chose, but something clearly likes to eat the leaves. But if they hang on, I think they can make it. We've never watered these redbuds we planted (aside from the day we plugged them in the ground, that is). So they must rely on whatever water comes their way naturally. The fact that so many have made it is a good sign. Not everything I have planted has done as well, as you know.
Missouri calendar:
- Badgers begin breeding through September; more active during the day.
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August 2nd, 2006 at 5:23 am
I’ve seen redbuds, usually as urban plantings, that do okay in the sun, but they’re normally understory plants as are dogwoods. I’m guessing that, as you suggest, that the issue might not be so much full sun as it is competition with densely-growing sun-loving species like grasses.
But at least you have them. I love redbuds in the early spring.
August 2nd, 2006 at 6:45 am
I’m guessing your animal eating the leaves might be the animal that eats the leaves of all the trees we plant in southern Iowa, whitetail deer. I help plant several thousand trees a year and about half end up getting eaten by deer within the first year or two of life. After that, most trees grow fast enough to surpass the deer pruning.
I’m not sure of the redbud habitat but most that I see in your neck of the woods and northern Arkansas are as Wayne said, understory trees. However, I have two in my backyard that are thriving in full sun. Both are now about fifteen feet tall.
August 2nd, 2006 at 7:53 am
Too bad about the dogwoods. We have mixed luck with ours, despite watering.
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:49 am
Congratulations on you tree success! The future at RR will be even more colorful than it is now.
Those randy Missouri badgers must like to see what they are doing…you are the “show me” state, so I guess that makes sense.
August 2nd, 2006 at 12:57 pm
Hi! I am visiting via Sonia this afternoon…I love redbuds and need to plant some around our own woods. They seem to be everywhere here by nature except our yard! Continued good luck!
August 2nd, 2006 at 1:10 pm
Pablo, I had meant to mention your pond and lake posts in my article about our new pond. I have enjoyed reading your travails. Shall I mail out some clay? When I saw the excavator start to dig into that layer of blue clay I thought of you and your stories of sealing your lake.