Broadwells

Come one, come all to the greatest show in landscaping!

Broadwells is located just inside Harnett County, which is west of us, about 30 or 40 minutes from our house. It is a name a customer at the meat counter dropped about a week ago. I was instanly hooked at the talk of five dollar trees and phrases like "sells to the public". So I quickly took a note of her directions.

That evening at dinner I mentioned it to Mark , who mentioned it to a coworker the next day. Within 24 hours I had really solid directions in my hands and a second "two thumbs up" rating. So I put a Birthday Check in the bank and a James Heriot book on tape into the radio for the adventurous drive.

The drive way of Broadwells struck me as unique on two, lets say three counts. First it was inconspicuous, understated and rough (cracked poured cement). Secondly for such a well thought of place the sign was also very little and old and I nearly missed it. And thirdly I had to wait for two huge lanscaping vehicles to leave so I could pull in and I was followed by an even larger truck.

Along the driveway I went past someones house and spotted a very large and apparently tolerant dog. Whne I got to "it" I had no idea where to park! There was large equipment and trees everywhere. The first building standing there was a large red barn and in front stood the largest under statement of all a man I can only assume is the owner.

I asked him how it works. None of the trees are labeled (not true, about 1/2 of the small fruit tree selection was). Just drive around and pick out what you want. Cash or Check only.

This amazed me. Strangely I decided to walk and take a first look. This was not a bad way to scout out the roads and paths and general location of trees. It was a silly idea for someone nearly six months pregant in flip flops and under exercised. I moved slowly cautiously. I thought this ID stuff was a snap, but apparently my Dendrology is a bit rough. No matter, I muddled through. Even though he told me where to look I never did find the Fruit trees on foot... I wandered and wandered. When I gave up I had to conquer the walk all the way back to the man in the hat and my car.

With my little subaru and a refresher on the directions I was able to find the fruit trees in no time. Wow! Fruit trees for only $8.50 each! At Lowes last night we prices them at $16.98. And these were healthy and labeled. I tied the hood of the trunk open so it wouldn't bounce around and snap trees in two and then I stuffed one Santa Rosa Plum tree in the front seat along with a Concord Grape. In the back seat I squeezed a Red Haven Peach. In the trunk I fit 2 Belle of Georgia Peaches, two Gala Apple and a Winsap Apple. Then I drove about to find the cheep holly trees I heard about.

There is one side of my yard that follows the main road, one house over, and I'd like to block alot of that view. There were Holly Trees everywhere of types and varieties I can't comprehend. I grabbed one in a small bucket - lifting these things was exhausting. I shoved it awkwardly into the trunk. Then I drove to see the man in the hat.

He was very nice and very present. He was someone you wish you could be. Satisfied in life and centered, not to mention very popluar. He told me that the Holly tree was $3.00! Sixty eight dollars later I was homeward bound and bursting with plans.

At home I put some bags of mulch onto the hood of my car and a couple of shovel in the back. Then I coaxed Ginger and Bluew into the back seat for the short ridel. There was no way I was going to carry these trees one inch farther than necesary. Off we drove into the yard, much to the supprise of both dogs. First into the ground was the Holly Trees and I am very satisfied with its placement.

Then it was off to the back of hte property near the pipeline to plant the Orchard... and I proceeded to try and plant the whole thing. I got the three peaches, one plum and one apple tree into the ground before I was pooped. While I was diging I met a neighbor who came and introduced herself as a Hurricane evacuee. She was nice.

Several days later, three or four, Mark and 'I' planted the rest of the trees and the grapes. I had no idea where to put the grapes, I hadn't really planned on having them... but for $5.00!

It is possible these trees are too close together but I couldn't be more satisfied. Now I've got all these ideas in my head for moving around things I've already planted, remulching and reworkign our rocky clay like soil. What a wonderful delema.

Mystery

There are apparently cat magnets involved in my life. I don't know where they hang out really ... maybe in my aura or in the bottom of my sock drawer. If I had a guess it might be in the hand print I leave on a door knob. That is why they turn up at my door.

Cats adopting me became a dangerously prolithic habit in Cumberland. I appear to have picked up where I once had left off with the feline world.

In search of owner for a beautiful, possibly female, needy, talkative, pick-me-up-and-cuddle-me cat.

She came to our front porch over the last weekend and began talking to anyone in particular. Both dogs noticed but we humans were a little slow to pick up the details. We were in the middle of an electric clipper hair cut.

When I notice the cat I went out to see what the situation was, to meansure her up and figure out why my porch. I never did quite figure out why my porch. She has brown eye and a beautiful white and orange coat, with tabby stripes and a big fluffy tail. She also was very thin hungry and had an eye infection.

I fed her some milk the first night. Dog food and milk the second, and one the thrid day I started giving her kibble for breakfast too. In addition she let me pick her up and rub out the corner of her eye with neosporin. I could tell it stung but there was no hissing, claws or the like.

Each evening that she was here I tried to spend a least a few minutes holding a petting her in the evening.... she loved that.

She became a fixture on the porch during her five, maybe six day stay and her presence did not go unnoticed by or famously focused border collie Ginger... who a week later still spends a good twenty minutes every night seeing if her charge has returned.

They were a funny sight... Ginger in the inside nose to the glass sometimes, sometimes with the ball between her and the glass. Always watching for The Cat. We had to shut the bedroom door at night to make her sleep. Otherwise I was likely in one of my sleepless bouts through the house to trip over her near the threshold.

The Cat for her part stood on hind legs and pawed at the glass. Her toes making these pitiful sqeeking sounds as they slid along the panels. All the while she pleaded with us to let her live inside. It was a tough position to be in, but we have that determined, crazy and sometimes lunging collie Ginger to think about. And there are Marks allergies to consider. Last but not least there is no room for a greater vet bill in our home and we know it.

She is a dear dear cat, very loving and forgiving. If you want her come to the humane society location in Clayton North Carolina. I was not completely sure when I left her there and I keep hoping it was an o.k. location.

Marching Along

I think I have the flu. So outdoor logs are not going to be my thing for the next few days. I can report that yesterday Mark put all our trees in the ground and did a fine job. We have some leftover soil conditioner but no big deal.

Our soil here is very hard and rocky and apparently he found a few huge rocks while putting the trees in that will now help line our gardens.

It is a rainy 50 degree day today. Ginger refuses to go out in the rain . Bluew just kinda went out and stood around. Until last night it had been unusually dry, but now we're all wet. Evryone has started talking about another long dry hot summer. Not something I'm looking forward to as right now I'm 20 weeks pregnant.