Arbor Day

The only affordable way to landscape our two-year-old house, which was built on our old hay field, was to take part in the annual bare-root tree distribution at the county fairgrounds, sponsored by the soil and water conservation district. I ordered maples, Black Hills spruce, chokecherry and plums.

I can't remember the exact date of Arbor Day, but it's in late April. I picked up the plants Friday (April 27,) planted half of them that same day. It rained on Saturday, but I was able to plant the other half yesterday evening (the 29th). By hand, with a garden fork and round-nosed spade, wheelbarrow, garden hose and bucket. Whew.

The human body is an amazing thing. Imagine driving a car or riding a bicycle that is nearly 65 years old. Not possible without replacing a lot of parts. Yet beyond a few tune-ups, I haven't had to replace much of anything yet.

The part of the body most amazing to me is the foot. So frail in appearance compared to the the rest, it is perfectly engineered to faithfully support the rest of the body, in ever-increasing girth, with relatively few complaints. And some people don't believe in a creative Higher Power.

Bob is not as blessed as I. Last summer his back was rebuilt during a nine-hour surgery: titanium rods, pins, fusing and bone implants. He's also had a shoulder rebuilt and a gall bladder removed. Besides the removal of my appendix and the addition of two cardiac stents, my body is still ticking with its original parts.  Because Bob is still recovering from his "rebuild" job, the task of landscaping this new house fell to me.

Three weeks ago, my girlfriend Judy (also in her sixties) came out and we dug in landscape timbers (AKA discarded & recycled railroad ties) on the north side of the house, where soil was washing out along the exposed wall of our walkout basement. We also transplanted 22 hosta plants in the new terraces created by the timbers. It took the two of us three hours.

My "Arbor Day" feat took 2 1/2 hours of solo work on both days.  Half-way through each day's project, I found myself seeking methods that would save steps so I could spread out my energy. After two or three hours, I literally could do no more; was limping, moaning and not able to think straight. The body was sore. But it was nothing a couple of aspirin and a couple of beers couldn't fix. By the next morning, I was fine--albeit a little stiff. Made me grateful that I've been faithfully visiting a health club three days a week for the past six or seven years.
 This morning I rose at first light and watered the newly-planted trees, fixed oatmeal with walnuts and strawberries, and brought them, along with coffee and tea, into the bedroom on a tray, where Bob was just beginning to wake up (yes, I know I spoil him, but he's older than me and worth it.) I'm hoping that tomorrow's predicted rain arrives, in generous amounts, because dragging that hose and bucket around the yard is making me think about other labor-saving ideas--like borrowing a water tank on a trailer.

The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We need to take care of it.