Thursday, 19 September 2013

What the?

A tragedy occurred in the garden. And truth be told, I don't really know what happened. But yesterday when making soup, I went to pick a couple of bay leaves from the garden and found my leccino olive tree ripped out of the ground, lying on the patio, with bare roots exposed. I don't know what to think. Would someone be so cruel as to rip a tree out of a private garden and leave it to die on the ground? While I'm happy it wasn't an item of theft, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd prefer it, provided they took care of the tree? Or was it a large animal that just so happened to yank out the tree (?) and drag it a little bit thereby rendering it a sad victim of unfortunate circumstance? I also toyed with the idea of a fluke wind storm that only affected the olive. But being planted well over 1. 5 years ago in the ground and supported by stakes, that didn't make much sense either. Hmm?

Here's the olive as of last week... happy as can be.


I couldn't quite bring myself to photograph the olive pre emergency survival measures. I grabbed a bucket, and tried to burry those roots in moist soil as quickly as possible! But then the wheels in my head started turning! I needed to re-plant the olive asap. I considered purchasing a nice new pot, but with an 8ft tall olive tree, I wouldn't be able to bring it in if need be in the winter (and a pot would leave the young roots even more exposed). So the thoughts went to sheltered spots in the yard. I never thought I would plant a tree of any variety here... but in it went.

As you can see I had to build up the area with some rocks to keep the soil and water from washing away. I also had to severely cut back my yucca patch which previous to the olive moving down filled the entire corner with massive yucca. I sure hope the tree survives. The foliage is drooping ever so slightly at the tips (yikes!) and today is threatening to be a hot one. What do you all suggest to make this   fit in more? The area to the left and right underneath is actually larger than it looks here and I feel needs some kind of planting to make the corner look like a feature. Thoughts?!

Here's another angle. It's certainly less than ideal but I'm hoping it can balance the two trachycarpus. But I definitely need to go to work on an overhaul now. The yuccas will fill in with a vengeance, that I'm not so much worried about, but it suddenly feels all wrong. 


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8 comments:

  1. Kris Peterson19 September 2013 at 13:01

    How terrible! Could a deer do something like that? (We don't have deer so I don't know what they're capable of.) It's hard to believe a person would take such a dislike to an olive tree (or be just that mean). I hope the tree survives. It looks as though it has a good chance.

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    1. Louis19 September 2013 at 13:50

      It's certainly possible. I would assume a deer would just eat the tree, but there are certainly many critters around here. I don't wan't to believe a person would do that. It just goes against who I am. But it was really quite peculiar. I hope the tree survives. I'm guessing at the wilted tips to the branches that I'll get some die back. I'm thinking of planting another yucca gloriosa variegata. Maybe even a hardy opuntia? It needs something with some greens and golden colours while retaining an arid slight blue to tie everything in?

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  2. Shirley19 September 2013 at 14:49

    That's awful, it's just such an odd place for something like that to happen. Somewhat close to the house it seems.

    This is antler season for deer but it doesn't appear to be that type of damage. A feral hog will dig up a tree but they would also destroy the surrounding garden. A raccoon with a taste for olives?

    Good luck with getting it established before the cold weather sets in.

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    1. Louis19 September 2013 at 22:27

      Strange indeed!!! It's possible the wind hit at just a fluke gust there. I think that's what makes me feel happiest to believe.

      I hope it settles in. We are going into some cooler rainy weather so that will actually be good (first time I've said that)

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  3. danger garden19 September 2013 at 21:47

    Oh Louis, that just sucks! I am so sorry. Was it in a public place? I always thought that part of your garden was private.

    I am curious why you didn't replant it where it was before? (maybe my first question comes into play here). I do think it looks lovely where you've planted it now though and like your ideas above (in reply to Kris) for additional plantings.

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    1. Louis19 September 2013 at 22:38

      The yard is private, although there is a commercial office space attached (my father is a chiropractor). I am choosing to believe in a fluke wind storm (it's the least upsetting... Though it didn't appear that way).

      I guess I didn't include the why on the old spot. I felt like shelter became the biggest issue with the prospect of fall planting and almost bare roots. A happy note is that I've already purchased a yucca gloriosa variegata and banana split yucca. I've been toying with the idea of calliandra eriophylla instead of the banana split. But I think calliandra, opuntia, agave could be epic. Do you have or know of people growing calliandra eriophylla?

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    2. danger garden20 September 2013 at 09:02

      Calliandra eriophylla...I don't, in fact I had no idea it was hardy here! I do love it...

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    3. Louis20 September 2013 at 09:47

      Theoretically it should be. I just don't know if it will be happy without enough heat. Worth a try I suppose.

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