I transplanted eight fruit trees yesterday. Part of the mystery of why nothing has done well there was partially explained by my running into Black Walnut roots 8" under the ground. I wasn't expecting that. The trunk of the closest Black Walnut was 65' away and the drip-line was 40' away.
In a perfect world, I would get a Ditch-Witch and rip a trench to cut the roots and then let them rot in place. While I was at it, I could add drain-tile to make the two-track running at the base of the slope firmer during wet periods.
The good news is that I was planting persimmons which some people say have some tolerance to Black Walnut toxicity.
It felt good to get some points on the board in terms of filling blank spots in the orchard.
Civic duty done
I voted straight-ticket except for the Sheriff. He was running as a Democrat and he has done a fine job balancing "protecting the public" and "respecting the Constitutional rights of the accused".
The State Supreme Court candidates are "non-partisan" and I voted for the two, non-woke candidates.
Shingles vaccine
I plan to get the second shingles vaccination later today. The word-on-the-street is that the second shot can be very painful with fever, muscle pain and a very sore injection site.
I had two coworkers get shingles. I think both of them missed four weeks of work due to the pain.
Given the side-effects of the shot, I will get that after I finish tagging along on the house inspection at the house SB and HH are thinking of buying. One of the things that I think SB does very well is to ask intelligent questions. She intends to be there for the entire inspection and will ask the inspector "What should I do to get the most value out of your work?" and "I need a list of major system that you think might have a 1-in-3 chance, or greater, of needing replacement in the next five years".
Good luck re the 2nd shingles shot. ("Shingrix"?) I had the two of them about 5 years ago. No one wants shingles but we especially don't want it, the older we get. I know of a couple of 60-somethings who got it and had nerve damage and other badness in addition to pain and unpleasantness.
ReplyDeleteTom from East Tennessee
SB is asking EXCELLENT questions.
ReplyDeleteShingles is no joke from everything I have heard. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteA good home inspectors is an investment. If not already on the list, worth asking things like "evidence of water damage patched over" and "places where work might have been done without permit".
I am not inherently a straight ticket sort of fellow, although given the world I tend to run that way.