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| Two Sisters Trail |
Forgive the pun in the posting title, I like to play with words sometimes, ha. I thought I'd share a photo of one of the (many) things I've been working on. I so often blog about things I want to do, and little projects, this has been a rather big one that I devote at least a few hours to each weekend. Baby steps!
So, here is one of the trails I've been diligently creating. I've been clearing brush and some small Mesquite tree saplings a little at a time, and then trying to keep it mowed on a regular basis as well. Hopefully, it will keep the wild look that I'm enjoying right now, and yet let me roam around to different parts of the property more easily. I created a path (several actually but more on those in a later posts) from the house and future garden area. It runs down in between these two trees, curving toward the end to match a curve in the ground cover and the terrain...because sometimes you just have to let nature guide you, ha! Oh how I'd love to be able to mulch/gravel these paths but that would literally take tons ($) and tons ($$) and tons ($$$) of material.
I think if I just keep it mowed that will be just fine.
I think if I just keep it mowed that will be just fine.
These trees have been neglected for years and while very healthy and very tall, they are in need of a good pruning. That will have to come later as I sharpen learn my pruning skills and of course I'll need to clear out the areas under them before I attempt any pruning measures (no telling what exciting creatures I'll discover then). The neat thing about these two is that they are the exact same trees, the only two of their kind on the property that I can find. Not sure what variety they are, I need to get some leaves and figure that out, but because they are both the same size, they make a great pair of bookends for the trail and more importantly, a landmark on the property. So this past weekend, while on my Zen mower/tractor time, I decided to start calling them the "Two Sisters".
It's nice to be able to locate things on the property by using phrases like "I saw this unusual bird over by the Two Sisters" or "walk down Two Sisters trail and turn left." I know I like to have a frame of reference when I'm roaming around so I figured that's a good way to tell others how to find their way around as well when they come to visit. Obviously, it's not like you'd get lost, it is only 10 acres after all and as you can see, not densely forested. But still, it's a nice way to plan for things in the future as our ripples move ever further outward onto the property. For now I'll keep the trails cleared on a weekly basis and I'll continue exploring other areas and discovering new things.
That's half the fun! I'm thinking the other half is hard work!
I know that's hard work, my hubby cleared some trails for us on a lake property and you have to just take out all the little saplings and stray plants. But like you, he started mowing it once it was cleared and they have pretty much stay like that. Just keep up the mowing and you'll eventually force them into submission, ha.
ReplyDeleteHi! It's hard but very rewarding, plus once I've got all the saplings and stuff cleared, then it's just riding the big mower down through there, ha. It lets me explore the property easier.
Deletei love the two sisters. and wanna hear something crazy that can help you with your trails but is pretty redneck and might embarrass you? ok then.
ReplyDeleteget a long and however wide you need piece of carpet. you may have something lying around or go to a carpet store and you can pick up their scraps for cheap. take the carpet and lay it on the path that you've mowed. leave it there for a week. go back the next week and move the carpet further up the trail that you mow. leave it there a week. lather, rinse, repeat.
it's tacky - but it works. and you won't have to keep mowing the trail anymore.
again - i love the two sisters! your friend,
kymber
I'm not easily embarrassed, so it's cool, ha. Besides, the only people that might see it would be google earth (and big brother, lol). Of course, I'll have to blog about it so then EVERYONE would see it but that's ok, it's a good idea actually. I guess it works like when you put carboard and stuff down to kill off grass for raised beds and such?
DeleteNot sure why visions of a red carpet come to mind though...just as long as the paparazzi don't jump out of the bushes, I'll be ok.
You could approach the local tree cutters and permit them to dump the mulched tree limbs on your property. The wood chips are a waste product for most tree cutters and they are very happy to have a place to get rid of them. You can mulch all your pathways. They are good for the soil and natural. The only downside is you end up like me and they just keep bringing more, and more, and more.
ReplyDeleteOooh, good idea too. I could use the carpet to get stuff killed off and turn it into a real path and then mulch it 'on the cheap'. That's awesome, thank you! I will have to make some calls when I get them ready. Thank you again!
DeleteI used to just mow the paths at the farm every couple of weeks and they were fine.
ReplyDeleteGood to know, i'm just sort of winging it at this point. I know it seems when you mow the yard over and over it gradually just becomes yard. I was hoping that mowing the trails would do the same, they'll just become trails. Thanks for the reassurance, I need it at times since this is all new to me. :-)
DeleteI love Kymber's idea of the carpet and just moving it, I think that's how you get the weeds all gone, I have done that with cardboard for some flower bed. Of course Jane has a great thought with the tree mulch and that's a great way to recycle. Good job on the trails!
ReplyDeleteThank you Anon! Yeah I envisioned something like the cardboard on grass. And yes, Jane had a great recycle tip, that's for sure.
DeleteBeautiful path!! We too own 10 acres. 10.88 to be exact. Over the last 17 years we have had many trails. The small overgrown area is "the woods" the small garden with four walls of recycled 1940's livestock panels is "the secret garden." The area of raised beds with herbs off the kitchen (2!) is the "potagere'" It keeps the farm magical
ReplyDeleteYay, another 10 acre-er, ha. We have about 3 of cleared "yard" type space, and the rest is just brush and trees. But I am SO going to have a 'secret garden'. I looked at your site and I love it. By the way, thought I had already followed you, but I guess I didn't, so I just did. Love your blog. Thank you!
Delete"Magical"...I really like that, turning something like land into something magical. The world could use some more magical spaces!
We have put in trails here as well for riding the four wheeler and walking. I too would love to mulch them out at some point. Its a time thing for me right now no time for that project but someday :O). They would be great running trails with a bit more work and some mulch!
ReplyDeleteIf you call your local electric company and ask them for the phone number to the tree service they use, they all use one for trimming limbs and trees out of power lines. Anyway then you can call that tree service and tell them you would like to get on the list for mulch. They will come and dump as much as you want on your property for free when they are working within a certain distance of your place. That is how they do it here anyway. When you have all you want tell them and they won't bring more. It saves them having to pay to dump it at the county dumps and its great recycling. They chip the limbs and such they cut with a huge chipper into large trucks. The mulch is bigger in pieces than what you buy in bags but I have used it here and it works. I need to call and get back on that list myself as I am needing some mulch! It will be all sorts of woods. You don't get to pick :O). Here we get a lot of cedar as we have a lot of cedar trees in this area but we get hardwoods too. If you live in an area that has a lot of hardwoods you probably don't want to put it against your house in beds, as that would invite termites. But if you live where you have cedars or pines that is great as it repels bugs :O). Anyway maybe this would be a way for you to get enough mulch for your paths :O)> and now that I typed all this I see someone else mentioned something similar :O).
Hey, I'll take multiple suggestions it's ok. It's a great suggestion for asking the electric company who they use. And they don't charge for that huh? Great idea. We won't use any for the beds, I have something else in mind for that (some recycled rubber tire mulch since the beds are pretty small). Thank you for the detailed info, it's much appreciated.
Deletethose two sisters are a great thing to have - your name is quite endearing - we do that all the time too...
ReplyDeleteafter all, they are your new friends ;-)
cheers!!
Awww, thanks Jambaloney! Glad to know I'm not the only one that names things. I have no idea where I even got that, when I saw them and realized they were the same kind of tree and the only ones on the property, "the two sisters" popped into my head. Always nice to have you visit! Don't be a stranger!! ;-)
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