The path around the pond is overgrown, again. It grows thick and it grows fast and it's long overdue for a serious thinning out. First I had to cut a cleaner pathway with a minimum clearance of 8 feet overhang. Then I wanted to actually take out some trees but had to do it strategically because I wanted to keep the thick canopy in tact. In the hottest part of summer and the worst part of winter, this provides significant shelter for the horse and makes an absolutely gorgeous shaded walkway around the pond. Buttons has a barn but unless there's a bitter winter storm or the flies are driving her absolutely nuts, she prefers to hang in the woods. Can you blame her?
She was on hand to oversee my activity of course.
She was on hand to oversee my activity of course.
"What's wrong with the branches the way they are?" Pretty Pony wanted to know. She was about as helpful on this project as she was on the straw bale project. Note for future reference: Don't ever leave a horse in charge of the tool bucket.
As I was assessing the overcrowded tree and branch situation I realized there was one MAJOR hurdle standing in the way of this project.
The evil nemesis! It had sprung to life everywhere and was even starting to crawl across the pathway itself. The horror! Oh yeah, think so? Well, I got news for you pal, I came locked and loaded today!
Suck on THIS.......
Suck on THIS.......
Only the nemesis was taking hostages, wrapping it's creepy, demonic tentacles around the Honeysuckle, Wild Mulberry Tree and every other beautiful, flowering, favored species. The trash cedar trees...eh, not so much. It taunted me by applying a choke hold to the Honeysuckle until it cried, "Just remember, if you pull that trigger you will kill all of them with me. Bwaaa-haa-haa-haa-haaaaaaa!!!!!!!"
I realized the only way to confront evil this big was Mano-a-mano. I was going in there and I was going to rip this evil nemesis out by the roots. Every...last....one of them. I put on my special Poison Vine Combat gear which consisted of a hat over a head scarf head, a short sleeve t-shirt covered by a long sleeve t-shirt that buttoned firmly around my neck, long pants, knee high socks, knee high mud boots, protective eye gear and thick rawhide construction gloves impervious to even nails. I was ready, bring it on!
I realized the only way to confront evil this big was Mano-a-mano. I was going in there and I was going to rip this evil nemesis out by the roots. Every...last....one of them. I put on my special Poison Vine Combat gear which consisted of a hat over a head scarf head, a short sleeve t-shirt covered by a long sleeve t-shirt that buttoned firmly around my neck, long pants, knee high socks, knee high mud boots, protective eye gear and thick rawhide construction gloves impervious to even nails. I was ready, bring it on!
I waded in and I pulled and ripped vines everywhere I saw them and after several hours of this, they were still everywhere I looked.
Hmmm, might rethink the RoundUp.
Now according to the always ethical and highly trustworthy marketing people at Monsanto, it says this stuff only kills the nemesis. They fail to explain how of course, just you know, that it does, take their word for it. I decided to test this product on a few conservative and selective areas away from the plants I coveted the most to see what happened.
Two days later, the host sapling was dead and the nemesis was barely bruised. And it laughed "That which does not kill me only makes me stronger stupid mortal."
Indeed! I decided to declare this one a draw since I had succeeded in at least clearing it all away from the path and I was able to finish the pruning and cutting (with the hand saw, thank you very much) and I DIDN'T get an ivy rash.
Hmmm, might rethink the RoundUp.
Now according to the always ethical and highly trustworthy marketing people at Monsanto, it says this stuff only kills the nemesis. They fail to explain how of course, just you know, that it does, take their word for it. I decided to test this product on a few conservative and selective areas away from the plants I coveted the most to see what happened.
Two days later, the host sapling was dead and the nemesis was barely bruised. And it laughed "That which does not kill me only makes me stronger stupid mortal."
Indeed! I decided to declare this one a draw since I had succeeded in at least clearing it all away from the path and I was able to finish the pruning and cutting (with the hand saw, thank you very much) and I DIDN'T get an ivy rash.