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Now...... where was I? Oh, yeah...... we were discussing my mountain, weren't we?
Did I ever mention to you that if you wander off yonder a ways, you can view about 200 miles of the Cascade Mountain Range? (What you see depends on where you are standing at the time!)
The view may always be there, but every couple years I have to go down the side of the mountain to clear away some of the Alders and Maple Trees that have grown enough to distract from the beauty of the scenery!
Now, I don't want you to think that I am anything but "gung ho" when I start a project like clearing the trees from the view, but I'll admit that once in a while I get a tiny bit off track.....
Two years ago, as I headed down the side of the hill I came across a forked Alder that caught my attention... It was early Spring, and the branches of the Alder were pliable, so with a little twisting and manipulating I formed the branches into a heart!
It would have much easier and quicker to create if I had opted to use twine to hold the branches in place, but in my mind that would have been cheating! The basic shape was fairly easy to accomplish by bringing the two outer branches together and intertwining them, using the new leaf buds as "stops" that interlocked the two. A third smaller branch was used to pull the center of the heart down to define the shape more clearly. Two or three times a year, I go back and do a bit of pruning and to weave any new branches into the pattern. My "heart" is only five feet tall now, but with luck there will come a day when you can wander off yonder and view my mountains right through my heart!
Before I close for today I suppose a few of you would like to know what I did with my Cedar logs.... Maybe?
The logs made an excellent bench to sit on as I pondered what to do with them, but...... naw...
I considered Loz's idea of using the logs as pillers on each side of the entry into the bird garden, but when I stood them in place... well, they just didn't look right because of the size difference.
However, once I moved the short log over next to the tall one, I knew that I was close to figuring out what they would become....
OK....
I'm probably the only person in the world with a 800 pound birdhouse! More precisely, I used the logs to create a combination bird house/bird feeder/squirrel den/planter!
There were several rotted knots that I dredged out slightly in the hope that the local song sparrows would find suitable for creating homes. Happily, the sparrows DID find the holes to their liking! Even better, two days later, a Northern Flicker began to excavate into the largest of the holes!
The top of the tall log was completely hollow so I cut a circle of plastic and laid it in the bottom of the 2 foot hole to help divert the majority of water away from the areas of the bird holes. Then I filled the hole with compost and planted a large sword fern in it!
The shorter log has a few more bird homes in it. I use the top as a bird feeding area!
I'm not sure if this is good or bad, but a Douglas Red Squirrel decided to build his burrow underneath the taller log.
All in all, I am pretty pleased with the end result of this project! The photo was taken before everything was completed, but you can get an idea of what I did. It seems that these logs will probably be a very busy place next Spring. I'll post a new photo for you then!
bbbbbbbbb
From: Cedar Hill Washington | Registered: Aug 2002
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Wow! Aren't you the clever Willy! I was picturing a Flintstonemobile with those logs. You idea is much more forest-friendly! Can't wait to see the Spring photos. Love yer living heart, too!
bbbbbbbbb
From: Ugh...Van Nuys, CA | Registered: Nov 2003
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I didnt see the holes before, did you show them? I would of said a planter... my brother was cutting wood for my mom and we found one with a hole in it, we're going to plant something in it too this spring...
VERY NICE BILL< I LIKE IT ALLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
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Bill you are so creative.......and the birds will love you for it!!!
bbbbbbbbb
loz's blog
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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<Bestofour>
guests
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Now that is REALLY yard art. When I saw that caption, I thought it was going to be about cement stuff, and gazing balls, which I happen to like. I keep asking for "yard art" for birthdays and Christmas, but never get any because my children think it's tacky. I'll run pictures of your yard art by them and get their expert response.
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Beautiful view, I'm jealous. It's so funny because I did the same thing with a cedar log except I planted tame strawberries in the knot holes, the neighbours kids drove their parents crazy looking for big berries in the trees on their own property.
bbbbbbbbb Tamara's Photos Thinking Spring, Thinking Spring...Nope, doesn't work.lol
From: NB Canada | Registered: Jun 2003
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WOW! From what I have seen thus far of all your beauty there at your home, I should have guessed you would create something more than mere planters as you sound like a 'giver' of all the great things God has bestowed upon us, Bill.
GREAT JOB!!!!!!!
LOVE the heart too.
Sue Z
bbbbbbbbb "WHEN IN DOUBT ... DON'T"
From: SE Michigan | Registered: Mar 2005
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Ok Bill, I live in Wa. also. Where is Cedar Hill? I know where the Cascades are!!! Do I have to look on a map? Love your topics tho. Darlene
From: Wa. | Registered: Apr 2005
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Hi Darlene! Cedar Hill is 40 miles northeast of Seattle and 2 miles due south of Sultan...) You won't find it named on any maps yet, because I named it myself...
I'll bet that someday we'll be on the map tho!!!
bbbbbbbbb
From: Cedar Hill Washington | Registered: Aug 2002
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What a beautiful sentement!! You have poetry of the soul!!!
bbbbbbbbb Some hearts, like evening primroses, open more beautifully in the shadows of life. Shirley's Secret Room
From: Cincinnati Ohio | Registered: Nov 2006
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Sorry, I didn't put there what sentiment was so special to me:
(My "heart" is only five feet tall now, but with luck there will come a day when you can wander off yonder and view my mountains right through my heart!)
bbbbbbbbb Some hearts, like evening primroses, open more beautifully in the shadows of life. Shirley's Secret Room
From: Cincinnati Ohio | Registered: Nov 2006
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Bill, could you please give us an updated picture of 'your heart' since 2004:
bbbbbbbbb Some hearts, like evening primroses, open more beautifully in the shadows of life. Shirley's Secret Room
From: Cincinnati Ohio | Registered: Nov 2006
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Very nice pics . I love the yard art . Kepp up the good work .
bbbbbbbbb Successful gardening begins with trial and error and ends with dirty knees . Happy Gardening !!!!!
From: Oklahoma , USA | Registered: Mar 2007
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God has bestowed upon us, Bill. ![[flower]](graemlins/flower.gif)
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