Garden Update and Mimosa Trees

[foxgrrl]

So, about a week after everything got mowed, the neighbors had the crab apple tree right along the fence next to my garden cut down. And the tree cutting people dropped all of the cut tree branches on my garden, crushing the two remaining plants, and knocking over some pots on the patio.

I found out that the neighbors also wanted to replace the fence between our two properties. I told the landlord (and my roomate) repeatedly that I did not want the fig tree next to the fence cut down, and to make sure that they do not cut down the fig tree. In anticipation, I also dug up all of the plants I had growing near the fence, and transferred them into pots — which was good, because the fence people destroyed everything growing within about two or three feet of the fence (chopped up and left on the ground).

I was awoken at 7am by the fence people (I didn't know which day they would come), and I rushed outside in my bathrobe, and stood guard over the fig tree. I told everyone there at least twice, to not cut down this tree. I couldn't stand around all morning, so while I was inside getting ready for work, they cut a six inch by three inch notch out of the side of my favorite trunk¹ of the tree. Fucking morons. The hole they cut was so that a decorative edge along the fence wouldn't be touching the tree. The proper solution to this is to cut the notch in that board of the fence. Anyway, I tarred the cut they made so it wouldn't get infected, it reached the core wood, hopefully the tree recovers. [Back when the tree killing people did this, they didn't tar the cuts and one of the neighbor's trees that they cut off the overhanging-our-yard branches from is now half dead from a fungus infection.]

I got some two by fours at the hardware store (I should have asked for some of the wood from the old fence, but it was removed before I had thought of it), and built some raised garden beds. I used up all of the soil I had made from compost, and so went to the nursery to get some bags of topsoil, and while there, impulsively bought about ten varieties of tomato plant. (The one plant I had managed to grow from seed had been killed, so I guess I'm cheating now, but if I want any tomatoes before autumn.)

Apparently, some number of years before I moved into this place, there was a Mimosa tree growing next to the fig tree (next to the fence), which had been cut down years ago. Every year it grows new stems and leaves, and I water it trying to get it to grow, and then the yard murderers keepers chop it all down and throw it in the trash. I'm planting stuff around it (as everything that was growing along the fence is gone now) because that should be enough of an excuse to keep the yard killers away from it until it reestablishes itself. (The stump is growing some new leaves now, yay!)

As I'm now watering that area every day, all of the Mimosa tree seeds that have been sitting in the ground for years, are now sprouting. I've counted at least fifty seedlings, and they can't live where they are now. So I've been transferring them into pots, while their tap roots are still only about three inches long.

So… I have all of these Mimosa tree seedlings (see photo) that I don't know what to do with. If anyone reading this wants one, or a dozen, tell me and I will give you as many as you want. They will grow a very deep tap root, so don't plant them over your septic tank. I don't know exactly what species they are, since I haven't gotten the parent to grow long enough to flower.

---

¹ The fig tree has two trunks, my favorite one is the one you can climb up onto the roof from.

Comments

[nerdlover.livejournal.com]

Aaaaw the little seedling is so cute. Too bad you're so far away Id see if maybe the roomie wants it for the yard.

[mayamaia.livejournal.com]

Me! I want one! Oh please! (It's Franny. Do you have my phone #, Julia?)

[adularia.livejournal.com]

What the hell problem do those people have with vegetation? If they just don't want to see trees ever, there are plenty of places they can live in concrete boxes.

[aaron-raccoon.livejournal.com]

My yard may be a bit overgrown but I won't let any landscaping people near my yard. The last time they touched my yard was when they were trying to sell the house next door to me. They trimmed some of my <a href="http://crinum.org>crinum</a> which you are not supposed to trim. My biggest problem is that I usually fill up the yard waste container in 15 minutes and I have the largest one they ever provided (they don't give out ones that big any more). When I had to replace the fence between my neighbors and me we did it without harming any of the border plants, though I wish my neighbor would get rid of the weeds and mow his front lawn. I have a lot of crinum bulbs from my late grandfather which I don't want anyone to touch. Now if I can just get my strawberry patch under control I'll be happy... there's some nasty weeds that are impossible to get rid of in there and hopefully the slug traps and pet-safe (sluggo) bait will allow me to finally get some strawberries. Fig trees are awesome. My parents have a large tree that is a 3rd generation from a tree my great grandfather planted. They can be pretty robust too. I've seen some large branches cut on it and it recovered just fine (though with the tar to protect it).

[chrisla.livejournal.com]

... and on the 8th day, God made electric fences.

[cyberspice.livejournal.com]

What is it with the need for clinical conformity. What dear little seedlings. If I wasn't 6000 miles away I'd definitely have one!

[kitten-goddess.livejournal.com]

I wish I could have a Mimosa, but I live in an apartment.

BTW, is it true that Mimosa trees flinch when you touch the leaves?

[hep.livejournal.com]

i will take some! we just tore out everything dead from last year and i need to fill some holes in our shrubberies!

[pope-guilty.livejournal.com]

Mimosa plants? That's amazing! I thought you had to mix the champagne and orange juice yourself! :D

[aatheus.livejournal.com]

Yay Mimosas! Those ARE the ones with the flinching leaves, right?

How deep are their tap roots? If it's less than three foot, I'd be inclined to plant a few in a deep pot on my balcony. It gets plenty of light during half the day (facing due east).

[foxgrrl]

Yay Mimosas! Those ARE the ones with the flinching leaves, right?

Some species, but not all.

How deep are their tap roots? If it's less than three foot, I'd be inclined to plant a few in a deep pot on my balcony. It gets plenty of light during half the day (facing due east).

The roots go down at least as far as what's sticking out above the ground, on the seedlings the tap root are about two or three, maybe even four times longer than what's sticking out above the soil.

[solarbird]

I think you win this round. Well fought!

You could probably send me a couple of these seedlings in small plastic bags (moist, with soil) well-anchored in a sturdy box if you want to conduct that kind of experiment. If you don't, that's okay too. ^_^

[ivy]

Bastards! I'm so sorry that you've had an attack of the landscapers too. It's really distressing. I hope your fig tree makes it through, and I'm glad you managed to save some plants.