Three signs spring has come to Appalachia

The first sign spring is here are mayapples (lower photo) that spring up in the woods. Also known as the umbrella plant, the plants shoot up almost overnight and ever so slowly unfold their leaves.

The second sign are the beautiful trillium (above) which pop about the same time as mayapples but in fewer numbers. Trillium are sensitive plants. Step on one and it quickly shrivels and dies. If you are in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, don't dare dig up one. It can cost you a hefty fine.

The third sign is my first yellow jacket sting of the season. My hand swelled so badly I couldn't get a glove on. After a dozen or so stings last year, I always keep the Benadryl close by.

If we have to have stings, it's also nice to have mayapples and trillium.

Oh, my aching trellis

My master plan calls for three 64-feet rows of wire trellis for my brambles and grapes. That means sinking 18 posts in the ground with concrete. I laid out all 18 posts and managed to dig six and pour concrete before my back gave out.

My neighbor has an auger on his tractor and has offered to dig the post holes for me, but I was anxious to get started so I used my manual post-hole digger. After two hours of digging, I'm not so anxious now. I'll save the remaining 12 holes for my neighbor and his tractor.

When finished with the three rows of trellis, I will have room for:

* 8 thornless blackberry
* 8 red raspberry
* 4 muscadine
* 4 Concord grape

Once again, the photo is not too striking, but six months ago there was a solid wall of trees and undergrowth where the camera is looking.

RECYCLING NOTE: My gardening books say to use a vinyl coated wire for the trellis. When the cable company was trying to figure out what was wrong with our broadband, they tore out about 200 feet of co-axial cable. I saved it and that's what I will string between the posts.

The fruit trees are in the ground

After all the preparation and buildup, I finally put the shovel in the ground and planted six fruit trees on the north-facing slope above what will be the garden. Two each of:

* Macintosh apple
* Bartlett pear
* Early Richmond cherry

The surrounding land in the photo looks a little disheveled, but keep in mind just six months ago this was woods so thick you couldn't walk through it without a machete.

The composition of the dirt was a pleasant surprise. It was more loam than clay and had a nice texture. I added a little organic compost but it probably wasn't necessary.

I have on order some garlic clips to put on the trees to try to keep the deer away. I'll also spray the logs I placed around the trees with Liquid Fence. My hope is that grass is so plentiful this spring that the deer with graze elsewhere.

Tomorrow: Building wire supports for the brambles and grapes.

An embarrassment of (walnut) riches

My intensive clean-up of the garage recently reminded me that I still have about 80 pounds of black walnuts which have been husked and dried but not shelled. The thought of cracking and shelling that many walnuts threw me into a depression. What to do?

Solution: I packed 40 pounds into a bag and offered them for free on craigslist. The posting had not been up 10 minutes when I got the first call.

I specifically said in the posting that the walnuts were husked but not shelled. I even posted a photo. The caller's first question was: Do I have to shell them?

"Yes," I said. "My generosity only goes so far."

Anyone who has tried to shell black walnuts knows wherewith I speak.

Much mulch

The nursery man who has been helping me select my fruit trees and berries was off today, so I didn't get my plants. Instead, I bought two tons of much which I spread on our 9 flower beds. (Note to self: stop building flower beds.)

We have a 50% chance of rain tomorrow so I put the mulch down at a good time.

I will get something in the ground this week during the cool snap. My planting window for trees, grapes and brambles is slowing closing.

Mundane, but necessary

So, I went to the garage to clean up some grass seed I had spilled behind the workbench. Six hours later, I have a clean garage. Not very satisfying work, but necessary.

I start planting tomorrow.

Take that, Bucky

R. Buckminster Fuller, the visionary architect who invented the geodesic dome, said there are no such things as right angles in nature. He never saw the trees in Deerfield.

The photo is one of my favorite trees along our gravel driveway. I have other photos of trees bent in all types of condescending shapes, but I will save them for another day when I can't get outside.

We had another 1/4 inch of rain today, giving us something over a half inch for the past four days. Grass seed is springing to life.