Friday, April 25, 2014

THIRTY DAY CHALLENGE--A PHOTO A DAY--day twenty five


A local lady who claimed she was a Master Gardener once told me it was close to impossible to raise maple trees in our Zone 4 weather and clay soil.

A different expert at a tree nursery recommended a Deborah Maple, a close cousin to the Norway Maple which is so hardy it's sometimes considered an invasive species.  My Deborah is doing well, thank you very much.  She is expected to grow to fifty feet tall and to live over a hundred years.

Deborah did so well I planted an Autumn Blaze Maple in the front yard after my weeping birch was assassinated by a backhoe and borer beetles.  Autumn Blaze is doing fine too.  She looks gorgeous in the fall and is also supposed to grow fifty feet tall and outlive both me and my grandkids.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. – Chinese Proverb

6 comments:

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh I sit under Maples over 50 ft. tall and there is nothing like it. Yeah for your tree. Hug B

Joanne Noragon said...

Great proverb. Here's to tall trees, and good job on yours.

joeh said...

I miss the red maples that were in the front of my last house. Beautiful in the fall.

Terry and Linda said...

Life would be awful without trees!
✿♥჌Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

TALON said...

Love the Chinese proverb, Leenie. There's something beyond satisfying in planting a beautiful tree.

Carla said...

I've learned that nursery staff are often mistaken. I'm glad your trees are defying the 'planting zone'. :)