Additional Tree Guard Height

The dwarf apples have been growing well. Today the tree guard height was increased because the trees were at the top of or above the existing tree guard. It will probably be another year or more before the apples appear on the trees, when they will have to be netted to keep the birds off from eating the fruit. There are quite a few eastern as well as crimson rosellas in that area, and they are fond of apples.

The committee is pleased to see these birds around the recreation reserve and the cemetery, just like its wonderful to see a flock of yellow tailed black cockatoos eating the cones from the pine trees in the cemetery. The birds make a colourful addition to landscape.

During the F[route] breakfast a flock of about 30 yellow tailed black cockatoos visited the pine trees, and had everyone who had a reasonable camera attempting to take pictures of these beautiful birds who have the reputation of being a harbinger of rain. It was certainly the case.

It hasn't been the best year though the spring was very good, the summer created a worry with a long stretch without rain enough to keep the trees going, and problems with the trailer upon which the water tank was fixed. Then trying to find places along the creeks where enough water could be found to pump out. Usually any water holes were drained. Though they recovered after a few hours.

The trees were not only challenging the committee members to supply enough water for their survival, but there was the hot wind and the very fierce sun that burnt the leaves off some of the tree. Sugar maples seeming to be the most susceptible to the combination of wind and heat leaf burn.

This might be the way that each year will treat the trees? There is a real worry regarding the effects of global warming, which will have an impact. It might be a situation that the area receives more rainfall, but if it's not spread over the whole year it may not be so good.

The crimson century in the cemetery are also changing colour as autumn marches on ahead of the winter which is visiting but not yet in residence. Those trees have done very well during the harsh weather conditions during summer. Which has been pretty amazing. They will not present their best autumn leaf shades this year because of what they had to endure, but just surviving is already enough. So we'll be happy with what they can do this year and hope they might put on a better display next autumn.