1/16/09

Rest in peace, Tragic Ash

My dad was very impressed with the strong case you all made for removing the Tragic Ash in his backyard. We both thank you for that.

He found someone to take it to the stump for $350. I told him that was a reasonable price considering what little I know about that sort of thing.

So he did it, and sent me some pictures.

AfterTragic Ash

There's all kinds of things he can do with that stump. My father is very creative and handy. I'm sure he'll put it to good use. I'm not sure if it's going to sprout or not, but I guess we'll find out.

(Just to be clear, that's not his house he's standing next to. It's an art studio he had built in the 1980s, currently functioning as an in-law unit.)

So the question now is, what next?

Ashstump Fence

(Pay no attention to the plum tree in the picture above. That's another tragedy, but a minor one. Not worth considering here.)

This clump of bamboo is at least 35 years old. It has survived great depredation.

BunchedBAMBO

My dad thinks a row of clumping bamboo might be good idea for this space. What do you think about that? I think it's reasonable. Maybe ten clumps would do the job, and fairly quickly. A year or two, max. And he'd never have to worry about the power lines.

Exposed Wires

I know some of you are not fans of the 'boo, and it's not exactly a creative solution. Perhaps you'd like to suggest something else in the comments.

(Note: The trunk in the last picture belongs to Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila). Some interesting reading on it here.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dad looks pretty cute standing on the stump, I bet he is a character! Not a fan of 'boos, but can't come up with something else either, just a negative nabob.

Frances

Christopher C. NC said...

The Boo's are fine as long as they are clumpers and in the ten foot range max. It looks like there is space enough between the fence and the run of the wires so even the Boos wouldn't need to be directly underneath the wires.

What is his zone in east coast not sunset numbers. I can think on it some more.

What about the Tithonia diversifolia? The answer might be staring you in the face.

lisa said...

Ooh! I think a clump of bamboo is a fantastic idea! Especially a mix n' match...there are blacks, yellows, short, tall...what fun! How about a banana too? That red 'Siam Ruby' sure was cool! :)

lisa said...

BTW, I have enjoyed my stumps as either planter "stands", or mushroom farms. You can get spore plugs and grow gourmet mushrooms in a stump like that...yummy!

chuck b. said...

"The answer might be staring you in the face..." Ha, ha.

My dad lives in zone 9/10. A real zone 9/10, not the San Francisco version. He gets no summer fog. Tithonia diversifolia would need ample supplemental water to make it through the summer here.

Mushrooms might be too avant garde for my dad, but I like the idea.

Annie in Austin said...

No suggestions on what to plant...like your dad, I'm stumped.

Sorry I missed the original post on your dad's dilemma, Chuck - but must say coming to it late and reading it with all the comments was great fun.

And it's very cool to have a parent as a blog fan and promoter!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Brent said...

Bamboo should be OK. Ceanothus or Cercis Occidentalis might be better. There's a red foliage Cercis (not Occidentalis? not sure) that looks spectacular year round.

Les said...

I am not sure about CA standards, but $350 to remove a tree here would be a super bargain.