Dead Trees Removed

Above, the trees before they were cut down. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One project that needed to be done was the removal of two dead trees.

With fire season upon us, no sense in having fuel available to a fire. One of the trees was a pinon pine that was killed about two years ago by bark beetles. The other one was of a different species that had yellow leaves when it was alive. It died about four years ago.

Above, cutting up the first tree. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It took the workers about an hour to cut them down and put the cuttings on a flatbed trailer. I fired up the fire pit to get rid of the smaller branches. Good thing I did as it was a little cold out and rain was in the forecast. The fire warmed us up when we all walked by.

Above, burning some of the cuttings. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I didn't feel like cooking, I headed down to the El Rancho Hotel for dinner. The restaurant there was a bit busy. 

Above, after the trees were cur and removed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It started raining as I was having dinner, but it tapered off while I was driving home. As I am writing this, it started to rain again.

Lightning and Bark Beetle Problem

Above, the pinon tree today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was devoted to yard work, more so than originally planned.

I got the mower out and mowed Barking Spider Acre. With all the rain we've been getting, it needed mowing. A lot of shrubs were getting a little high.

At one point, the mower got stuck in soft soil near the arroyo. Luckily, I already had the Jeep out and I used it to pull the mower out of the soft soil. Having four-wheel-drive definitely comes in handy in these situations.

After I was done, I relaxed on the deck until a thunderstorm came in. That drove me indoors. But as I was standing on the porch, one bolt of lightning was so close (and very loud) it seemed that it struck in my backyard or my neighbor Scott Williams's yard. Other neighbors were startled by it as well, at least according to posts at our community's Facebook page.

Above, Barking Spider Acre after mowing and the thunderstorm. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I was looking at the lightning, I noticed that my big pinon pine tree was turning yellow. That is a bad sign. It could mean that bark beetles got to it. I looked up some information on bark beetles and it seems that my tree may be in the "stressed" stage as it still has some green. It looked fine a few days ago (the little shits work fast, it appears). I inspected the tree and saw some pitch tubes, definitely a sign of bark beetles. 

It is known that Jamestown and vicinity is having bark beetle infestations. So this did not come as a total surprise. It was just surprising at how fast the tree started turning color.

Not one for waiting, lightning storm or not, I jumped into the car and headed to the nursery in Gallup. There, I picked up some chemicals and a hose sprayer. While I was in town, I also picked up some cat food, since the cats eat like horses.

When I got home, I filled the container with chemical, hooked it up to the hose and sprayed the tree. I was pleasantly surprised that the sprayer reached close to 50 feet high (the height of the tree). I saturated completely the entire tree and sprayed some of the others to prevent infestation. I hope I got to the tree in time to save it. Thank goodness that the thunderstorm was gone when I started doing this.

The chemicals will kill the beetles (I hope) and provide a "barrier" to them.

Although this gave me something to do, I rather preferred not have spent around $60 for the sprayer and chemicals. Oh, well. I have plenty of chemical left in case I need to treat it again.

Bearing Fruit

After breakfast, I took a walk out in the yard and noticed some of the trees are bearing fruit.

First, I noticed one of the Russian olive trees near the GOCO Beast Barn was loaded with olives.

Seeing that this tree was loaded with olives, I went to check on the Russian olive tree near the front gate. It didn't have as much.

Then, I went to check the crabapple tree in front of the house. It was loaded with crabapples

Gusty Winds Ahead of Storm

Above, the oak and elm trees are now bare of leaves. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ahead of the cold front that's coming in tonight, we're experiencing gusty winds today.

There's a wind advisory along with a red flag warning from now to 6:00 this evening. The winds have already blown the leaves off of my elm and oak trees and about half of them off the crab apple tree.

Above, the crab apple tree has about half its leaves since yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I can see clouds on the southwestern horizon.

Hopefully, the clouds won't unload before we get back home from our monthly dinner at historian Martin Link's this evening in Gallup.

Hogan Tree Planting

Above, Wichita Blue Juniper trees in position for planting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Instead of heading down to Denny's at the Flying J this morning, I headed a mile up the hill to Greg Lucier's home to see the planting of 15 Wichita Blue Juniper trees at his wife's ceremonial hogan.

Above, the Wichita Blue Juniper trees and the hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The trees, once bigger and fuller, will be a noise block (including drums) for the neighbors when the ceremonies at the hogan take place.

Greg is married to a Navajo lady and the hogan was built for her.

Above, the entrance of the hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The view of the valley below from the hogan is a nice one. There is a 6-acre lot for sale across the street. I don't know what the asking price is.

Above, the workers and the equipment. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The hogan itself is not yet completed. It needs to have insulation, drywall and electrical outlets installed. Then, once all that is completed, a Navajo medicine man will bless the hogan so that it can be used.

Above, inside the hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the auger drilling holes for the trees. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the view towards the mesas from the hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the lot across the street that is for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the view down Birch Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the hogan from Birch Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fall Colors Have Started

While relaxing on the deck after putting up the sign, I noticed that some of the trees on the property are changing into autumn color mode.

So I went inside and grabbed the camera.

Some of the pictures I took:

Above the oak trees have turned. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the crabapple tree in front of the house. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the driveway and house. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the oaks from inside the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.