the Walnut Diary

The heavy snow at last melted from the edge of the newly-planted walnut field, so I examined the hills for surviving nuts in the rows next to the woodlot.  Many of the seeds were missing in the outer row, and the predation had moved in a full five rows at the northwestern corner of the field, next to a red squirrel hideout.  A total of 32 hills had been wiped out by squirrels.

I began armed patrols and shortly had reduced the predators by three reds, one chipmunk (no kidding, they’re relentless nut-thieves), and one very crafty gray.

That has slowed the bleeding.  Yesterday I started transplanting yearling seedlings from the display field, where they were growing in groups of up to five stems per hill after 2006’s remarkably successful seeding frenzy.

At first I moved plants to fill the gaps in the display field only, but when the gaps ran out I loaded the back of the golf cart up with a half-dozen shovels-full of sod (containing a seedling in each), and ran them down the hill to the raided areas in the new field where similar holes awaited them.  I wouldn’t think the trees were out of the ground for longer than two or three minutes, tops, and the ground is moist.

Three-year-old saplings don’t want to move, and even two-year-olds can’t be dug up without cutting off or tearing out the main root.  Last year’s seeds seem to come out well in a shovel-full, though.

While I haven’t named the individuals I moved to new homes, their size and the disturbed sod should make their continued study relatively easy.  From what I saw last year in the garden, I suspect the yearling seedlings will survive and the others will die by July.

More on this later.  Patrols continue.  I saw a nice harrier today, and hope it will help.

Oh, BTW:  the weekend highlight was the sight of three white swans flying low over the house.  Those are some birds!