Tree Removal -- Storm Edition

I think we've had too much removal around here already. Hopefully this is the last unless you count removing weed and vegetables from the garden. May 16th, we were in town celebrating Christian's birthday. It looked like a storm was rolling in and according to radar, which we use now instead of instincts, it was heading our way and looking grim.  I, always feeling better at home in a storm, was all for going home before it broke and Lynette and Anthony left a few minutes ahead of us. A mile from home the wind and rain hit full force. There were branches down and with the threat of hail (which didn't come) Anthony pushed all the tables aside that were ready for the graduation open house next day so we could put the cars in the garage. Then we came in and watched the storm. Our tree fell just after we got home. It was starting to split and we knew it was just a matter of time before it's time would come. My brother and wife stayed in town at Lorene's until the worst was over. By the time they got there the enormous spruce of our neighbor's that we could see had been uprooted and fallen on half the road. My brother and wife, took a tour of the neighborhood and took pictures so we could see the damage. I think every property sustained some damage, some more some less. There was some roof damage and one house had a branch go right through their garage door! 

Starting clean up. Barry came to help Jim butcher chickens and then helped load branches.

Planting new trees.

The following Friday, in the rain, we went to a nursery near Lincoln to look at trees. Jim wants to replace our windbreak with spruces, but it is better to plant them in the fall, so we picked out two trees, an Autumn Blaze and a Red Pointe maple. Jim realized that his pickup bed was far too small to haul a couple of 12' trees home so we paid and promised to come back the next day. 

Saturday then, Jim borrowed the dump trailer from the business, took the packing blankets and took off early enough to be there at 9:00. I didn't go, having plenty to do around home. While there he bought two more trees, a Linden and a Red Oak.  

That afternoon he planted them. One maple and the oak in back, the other maple and the linden in front. 

We have never had very good luck with maple trees in our clay soil. Jim has promised to take care of these, fertilizing and what not, so he better, for the price we paid for them!