Gardening Nana – Treehouse Memories

Writer / Nancy Craig

Have you seen the TV show, “The Treehouse Masters?” It brings back childhood memories of our treehouse in one of the maples that lined the lane to the farmhouse where I grew up in Rush County. My great nephews, Max and Eli, also lived on the family farm and had their own favorite climbing tree.

When the boys lived on the farm, they planted an apple and a peach tree. They have since moved away from the farm and now we are going to buy them a tree to plant at their new home. We are also going to buy a tree for our great nieces, Lindsey and Lauren, and help them plant it in their backyard.

Our book, “Gardening Lab for Kids,” by Renata Brown lists the steps to plant a tree in Lab No. 11. We will select a healthy tree in a container or one balled-and-burlapped. The book has a tip on selecting a healthy tree, which suggests you smell the roots; “they should smell pleasantly earthy and not rotten or stinky.” (Will let the kids do that step!) Make sure you dig your hole as deep as the root ball and three to four times as wide. Once planted, water well and water each week unless it rains. It is good to mulch around the tree just do not let the mulch touch the bark of the tree.

nanaMy sister loaned me a book, “Look Inside A Tree,” by Tina Ingoglia and illustrated by Mario Gomboli. The twins will love it because it is a “poke and look” learning book. The book has a lot of information and fun facts about trees like, “When the wind blows, the leaves wave like thousands of tiny fans. The moving air cools the tree and air conditions the nest.” No wonder our birds and squirrels love to nest in the trees in our backyard!

We love our trees, cherish fond memories and will plant new ones. The end of this month is Arbor Day so plant some trees to create your own memories.

The Gardening Nana

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