March 31, 2010

Ten "Free" Trees

We discussed tree stewardship in this post, and I mentioned needing to replace the two pecan trees we took down, plus future replacements for my two old oaks. Even though we planted six fruit trees and an almond tree last year, I felt that we needed some full size trees to plant, as these are all dwarf and semi-dwarf. I was delighted then, to go to my mailbox and find a long, slender mailer with this on the front:

Cute label, huh?I had forgotten about these! They are the ten free trees, plus a crepe myrtle given as a gift for joining the Arbor Day Foundation.

This is what I found in the mailer...

Arbor Day Foundation free tree packThe trees are very small, about 10 to 18 inches. They were color coded...

Color coded trees getting a drink before pottingPurple - 2 Sargent Crabapples (Malus sargentii)
White - 2 Eastern Redbuds (CercisCanadensis)
Dark blue - 2 Washington Hawthornes (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
Orange - 2 Flowering Dogwoods (Cornus florida)
Black - 2 Goldenraintrees (Koelreuteria paniculata)
Red - 1 Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

Considering that they are small, plus not knowing exactly where I want to plant them, the best plan seemed to be to pot them for the time being. I have plenty of pots leftover from planting our privacy hedge. This way I can keep an eye on them until I decide where their permanent homes are going to be.

Potted, labeled, & ready for a homeI got the soil for the pots from the old swimming pool.

If you would like ten gift trees, as well as be able to buy others at excellent prices, check out the Arbor Day Foundation website. The annual membership is $10. They are a great resource and a good cause.

Ten "Free" Trees photos and text copyright March 2010 

8 comments:

Theresa said...

Well, I hope they make it! Such a nice assortment.
And your garden grows beautifully BTW!

Michelle said...

I have been a member for many years.... :-)

DEEP END OF THE LOOM said...

That is wonderful! Very nice assortment for future planting.

Renee Nefe said...

we've been members for years. we don't normally have much success with the seedlings though...although they do say they'll replace them, we never bother.

My dh has a terrible habit of planting the seedlings in my garden...humph! Right now there is a hawthorn that is doing very well in there an oak and a maple. The oak & maple are very small and still look like seedlings even though they are many years old.

I bet yours do better though as you're a better gardener.

Leigh said...

Thanks Theresa. Now I just have to figure out where to plant them!

Michelle, good for you! I was a member a long time ago and just recently rejoined.

Deep End it is a nice assortment, isn't it?

Renee, maybe you need to fence in your garden and put up a "hands off" sign! *lol. I do hope these seedlings make it. Like you I probably wouldn't get the replacements, so it would be nice to have them make it this go-round.

Razzberry Corner said...

What a nice assortment of trees! And now the exciting part comes- deciding where to put them! I hope they all make it!

Kathy said...

Score. Way to go, Gardenlady! :)

No April Fools - We had a few inches of new snow on the ground this morning, plus it's snowing off and on right now. :(

And no lambs yet to cheer me up.

Leigh said...

Lynn, I have to admit that when I joined, I didn't have any ideas about where to put them. I'm working on that! The best part is that yesterday some of them showed little leaf buds. Always a sight that cheers my heart.

Kathy, you got snow too? It's entirely possible we could, though not as likely as your part of the country. May those cheerful little lambs present themselves to the world soon!