End of the day

We are missing our extended pack. We took our after-dinner walk with 3. We did tricks for treats with 3 (and the cat who thinks she’s a dog (only smarter)). The house is empty but we are sure the extendeds are happy to be home with mom and dad. They were a well-mannered pair to have visit. 
A toad in the garden and Mr Black Snakey in the driveway, no deer or turtles today. 
The hard thing about this visit was that Old Bud and Big Bud shared their name.  Big Bud had a great understanding of what to do when he heard his name.  We were constantly confusing him when we meant to call Old Bud.  Of course, Old Bud didn't hear us half the time and Big Bud did, all the time.

Going to get my chair back tonight!

When my mother and I were in Malvern we detoured to Redbud Native Plant Nursery in Media to do a little shopping. I bought 6 low spreading sumac, Rhus aromatica. and 3 coral berries, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, for the back hill. I was a bit distraught at purchasing plants from the honeysuckle family considering how hard we have worked to eradicate the Asian varieties but the proprietor assured us these were good native guys. Paul dug out the remaining blueberries and will dig them into the raised beds we have used for vegetables. We weeded a ton; what a pain that is. Compost grows great weeds. The blueberries will be happier where they can get more water, and I’ll be happier that I don’t have to climb the hill to pick or weed. I’m so over weeding. I think I’ll invest in a mulch company or machine. And maybe a vacuum/blower thingy to spread it. Or 
better yet, how about a yard boy/girl. Next year.

Plant Rescue

The dam at Shaver's Creek is to be repaired next spring. After 4 years with no water in Lake Perez many plants have come in to the dry lake bed.   We joined the PA Native Plant Society's rescue operation and dug some silky dogwood, elderberry, Spiraea tomentosa L. (steeplebush), Anapahlis margaritacea (pearly everlasting), Mimulus ringens (Allegheny monkey flower whish probably won't do well in our drier soil). More holes 

WHIP shrubs

On Tuesday I drove to Maryland pick up my potted shrubs from the Native American Plant nursery.  During the week I staged compost around the shrub planting sites.  On Saturday Leslie provided additional soil from our stockpile and water for the 60 shrubs I planted.  On Sunday we switched roles and I provided the soil and water while Leslie planted an additional 44 shrubs.
Today I got out early to the compost facility to get more for the remaining shrub planting sites.  While I was away my neighbor dropped by and disked the meadow and the rows between the trees and shrubs.  I spread the pickup load of compost and then planted 10 more shrubs, finishing up the inventory of plants I had received from Maryland.
We are now standing at 114 shrubs in the ground, watered and stakes installed.  That is about 2/3 of the required 150 shrubs in the WHIP plot.  We will start installing cages around those shrubs that are vulnerable to deer browsing, but at least some of the shrubs (raspberry plants and Carolina Roses) should be safe and not require any protection. We'll have to get the additional 36 shrubs, probably from local sources to fill out the planting grid.
On Sunday Buddy was was so tired from helping us plant that he had to lie down and rest in the breezeway and the garage before his bedtime outing. That's tired!  Of course, both boys were up at the crack of dawn today ready to help plant 104 more shrubs. 

New native plant source

Stephen Fast
11 Tammenend Rd, Pt Matilda
814-692-8890
or Facebook him through Native Plant Society
We had a tour of his deer fenced yard (3 acres) and saw lots of plants we are interested in.  We bought 10 native azaleas, pink and orange, R. Vaseyi, Mt Nittany pink species, or "gregory Bald" hybrids. (All started by Warren Weitzel from seed he secured) @$10 each , in 2 gal pots.