Work day on November 10, 2013

The sakura trees and the native trees we have been planting continue to grow each year. The trunks now have just the right softness and strength for male deer to rub their antlers through the mesh of the deer guards. They do this in fall during mating season. We reinforced some deer guards on the fall planting day, but not all. So with two volunteers we resumed a week later; we wrapped metal fencing around the trunks, hoping this method helps keep the trees free from scars. It took 3 hours for four of us to finish up all four rolls protecting 64 trees. We talked to the trees and the trees talked to us.

The landscape designers, Kary and Rick, have also been taking care of the trees. They watered the day after the planting day and returned again to water with the 20 gallon water barrel on wheels. They also worked 3 hours on Sunday. When we all finished we saw three deer browsing on the hill.

North Park was a farm land many decades ago. Since it became a county park in 1927, almost all of the older trees in the park were planted. Many of these trees have reached maturity and are dying so planting more is important. Trees are good habitat for deer and other animals. They provide many benefits to humans too.