How exciting, we've just got a new one of these!!
...but will we live to see it grow like this?
Probably not, but we've planted it anyway.
It is Thursday, 8th March, 2012. We knew this was the day of the planting, but the tree-men were here before we'd finished our cornflakes. Thus we failed to capture for posterity, that first cut of the spade. Nevertheless, a digging man will always attract an audience. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.
It has to be said, it was a lovely day for it...
...but it's no good waiting there, Richard. It could be thirty years before the birds nest in it.
The sun burned down but our digger dug manfully on inspite of the heat. (About 10deg C)
Down and down he dug until he hit a snag!
Is it a water pipe, is it a drain...?
No! It's a massive root from the old tree.
Given that the Cedar was only 32 years old, see how quickly it had grown in our wet climate - this root must be six inches in diameter. It makes one realize just how much of the old tree must still lie burried. Keep digging, keep digging...
Stop everything! I've found a bit of old brick.
Typical isn't it. You wait hours for an assistant then three come along at once.
'Wow! That's a big one.'
'It's deep too.'
'Did you remember to pack the chain saw.'
'No. I didn't think we'd need it.'
'So, what are we going to do?'
A scratching of heads.
'I know...
'Have you remembered the tree?'
'Of course, it's in the truck.'
'Call that a tree?'
'Call that a truck?'
Now, now boys, love and peace, love and peace. Let's see what it looks like in the ground.
'Butiful!'
'It's only a baby, give it a chance.'
'A baby! Ahhhh...
'What I need is a nice steak.
'Yer, wiv onions and mustard.'
'No, you muppet! To turn the tree.'
'Oh! I see...
...to turn the tree.
Frotunately JJ is on hand to explain that the branches have to be orientated the right way in relation to the surrounding walls. (Know all)
It's also good that James is keeping an eye on things, there's no one knows a wall from a window better than James. Takes a pretty mean photo too, but we have not yet mastered the transfer from Apple Mac.
Now comes the tricky bit, the staking of the tree.
Four hefty stakes are driven into the earth at angles to cross beneath the root-ball, forming a basket with deep rooted legs. These stakes will remain in the ground to rot away while the Gingko roots negociate their way around them. But they will stay strong enough for long enough to hold the sapling firmly and invisibly in place, by means of a cunning ploy.
Two pieces of wood are placed either side of the trunk to protect the root-ball from the wires that will hold it down.
. 
Then the steaks are driven home with a big hammer...
... and the Gingko Biloba stands tall against the sky...
...its young buds just bursting to pop.
Well, we thought, now the exciting bit is done, we'll have a quick cuppa tea then watch them fill in the hole. But before you could say 'Jack Robinson'...!!! a glitch in my computer blocked the transfer of pictures and brought the narative to a stop! #*!!pht computers! ... To be continued.
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