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| In 1979 we planted around 100 Pine trees to the west and north of the place. This picture was taken in the summer of 1985. | We planted 8 inch bare root trees and by 1984 they grew to 4 feet. One error made was to plant faster growing shrubs outside the pines, which caused snow to drift over the pines and break branches and bend over the tops. |
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 | This picture to the left shows the necessary repairs made to the branches. Cloth was used to tie the side branches up so they would heal and many trees had to be supported by vertical splints because they were bent over flat from the snow as it melted on top of them. I scooped as much snow as I could off the top of the trees when the snow settled from melting, but this did a lot of damage to the branches when the scoop shovel hit against the branches. |
Every spring I set out approximately 60 Birdhouses.
I also have a half mile Bluebird trail that
I monitor. In 1999, after 7 seasons, I finally got 2 pair of Bluebirds.
After the third season I got 3 pairs of Tree Swallows that started using the
houses. Both Bluebirds & Tree Swallows unanimously preferred the Peterson Bluebird houses
over the other styles I have out on the trail.
In the spring of 1993 I started a Wildflower
area outside the main windbreak. Two more rows of Conifers were
added in this same area. One row is Red Cedar and the other row
has several varieties of Fir trees.
The spring of 1996 was a very interesting year. It was
a very tough winter on many trees and shrubs. I have been experimenting
with Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Holly and Mountain Laurel.