Friday, April 2, 2010

THE PERFECT TREE

Awhile back I was struck with the notion of placing a shade tree in the backyard. The summer sun is so intense out there and my old sun diffuser a huge Mango tree fell victim to hurricane Wilma back in 2005.
With the idea percolating in the back of my mind last May I was able to obtain a Mimosa tree to plant. It came from a tidal swamp up in Jacksonville, Florida.

I'm not really sure what kind it is so I just settled for calling it a swamp Mimosa.
I brought the small Mimosa back home and planted it out in the sunny spot that I concluded a shade tree was needed. It was in kinda sad shape when I planted it from the trip and the heat in the truck. The Mimosa looked hopeful and was perking up when one of my dogs started pulling it out of the ground and running around with it in his teeth. I replanted it for about the third time and constructed a fence circle around it to deter the mutt.

As the summer progressed the Mimosa was growing taller and sending out new leave shoots. It was looking fine then suddenly started getting eaten by some unknown insect.
This is a picture of the Swamp Mimosa back in September before the insects munched out on it.




Today the Mimosa looks like a bare five foot pole.




So keeping with my garden rule not to compost any plant until waiting 30 days to see if it will come back I left the stick sit .

A week or so ago when weeding under some hedges I found a small tree growing. I pulled it out then figured maybe this tree was the answer. It is a native and seemed to be growing well under the bushes. I have no idea what kind of tree this is but I planted it in the tree circle with the Mimosa stick.



Well it didn't take too long to figure out why this new tree was growing so well under the bush. Apparently it can't stand the sun especially the intense sun my backyard gets.




What a wimp. This shade loving Bush Tree is toast or resembles it closely if you look at the color.




Here is what the plant looks like now a week later.


After careful review of my new shade tree selections and how they have failed to deliver inside the tree ring I have renamed this circle the shade tree ring of death.


Anyway back to the story-- It struck me that something drastic was in order to get a tree that is tough enough to survive the broiling sun and hungry insects.


So after some careful research I think I have the tree selected that I want to grow here .


It had to meet the following criteria:


1- Withstand the blistering direct South Florida Sun.

2- Grow in sandy nutrient deficient soil.

3- Be drought tolerant.

4- Provide filtered shade.

5- Be something different than every other tree around here.


What I have decided upon is growing a Neem tree from seed.


This tree meets all of my criteria and is really super cool. The seeds that I ordered last week and got today had to be shipped from Zanzibar through a U.S. dealer.


Bet you don't know where Zanzibar is. I didn't-- but it is in the United Republic of Tanzania. Still don't know where it is do you?


Ha Ha. I told you the tree had to be different. I mean how exotic is that, a Neem tree from East Africa.



The benefits from the Neem tree are too numerous to list but here is a link if anyone is interested. It is fascinating reading.




The experiment starts today as I just started four seeds.


If they grow this might end my search for the perfect tree. I'm even considering tempting fate and planting one of them in the shade tree ring of death if they come up.


---SANDDUNE--

13 comments:

  1. Good luck on your Neem trees! I hope they will grow fast and live up to all your expectations!

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  2. you can make neem oil and get rich!

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  3. Wow, a tree grown from the seeds? I really admire your patience! I too wish this tree can grow fast enough to provide some much-needed shade for our S. FL summer! Keep us updated your progress.

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  4. Neem indeed in quite and exotic pick. Can't wait to see our progress, keep us updated.

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  5. I only know 2 things about neem trees: 1) They are excellent mosquito repellents, and 2) They grow GINORMOUS and would eventually shade your entire back yard. PS Still love your blog even though we are not moving to S. Florida! Fran

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  6. I think you will like your neem tree. I have seen them growing at a friend's house. They can get very large and they are fast growing as trees go. You have to try one of the seedlings in the shade tree ring of death - just to see...

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  7. Deborah,
    Thanks for the positive thoughts. It is a good omen.

    Jim,
    As well as Neem soap- shampoo -insect spray and a long list of other uses. As for getting rich I already have three dogs and a wife that hasn't kicked me out yet. Who could wish for more.

    Ami,
    I have the patience to wait. I just hope the seeds were fresh as they have a short life. Time will tell if they will germinate.

    Belle,
    Thanks for stopping by! Exotic and beneficial were the criteria for this pick.

    Fran And Steve,
    Y'all not coming to South Florida is our loss. The tree the Neem hopefully will replace, the Mango that blew down, was huge in itself. Perhaps 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide on each side from the trunk. If it will repel Mosquitos around here that would be a blesssing. Living this close to the Everglades the mosquitos grow huge also.

    NanaK,
    Everything that I have read and heard about the Neem tree seems positive. I know that it will require trimming if it does grow but I do that anyway to the Avocado tree before the hurricane season starts. As for the shade tree ring of death I'm pondering getting a patent. I could sell the design to the State of Florida to eradicate the Melaleuca tree here. Of course they would have to pay with free Metaleuca mulch for life delivered to the Casa Sandpit:-]

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  8. I read an article on the Neem tree in Florida Gardening magazine awhile back. I recall that it had a lot of benefits, including...I believe...a natural insecticide can be derived from it...Neem oil. Good luck with your seeds.

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  9. Oh dear ... the shade tree ring of death ... I had a little chuckle over that because I had a spot exactly the same in my last garden! No mater what I planted in the spot, it died! I gave up ... built up a garden bed around it and planted shrubs instead. Good luck with your Neem tree ... I hope all the seeds sprout for you.

    Thanks for popping by to visit my blog ... and thanks for your Easter wishes as well. Hope you had a great weekend yourself.

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  10. I look forward to hearing about your Neem tree seeds, sprouting, growing and providing you with shade. The summer sun is brutal down here that's for sure. We lost several pine trees because of Frances, Jeanne and Wilma, so we no longer live in the woods.

    I like it that you feel rich having your wife and your dogs. That's great!

    Enjoy your gardens ~ FlowerLady

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  11. Susan,
    I have been using Neem oil on some of my plants instead of pesticides for a while now. It takes a while to work but it stops the bugs from wanting to eat instead of killing everything.It also is not for every plant so you have to test a few leaves to see if it will effect that plant in a bad way. I hope the seeds start. Thanks for the positive vibes and for stopping by.

    Bernie,
    I like your Australian blog and the different plants and wildlife that you photograph. It is really neat to see for a flatlander [ FLORIDA ].
    And yes it is funny that every garden seems to have one spot somewhere that nothing wants to do well in.

    Flowerlady,
    The old Mango tree tried to stand up to Wilma's winds but was broken like a matchstick.The loss of a good shade tree really changes your whole yard. It is my belief that it is much better to be rich in important things than to be wealthy any day.What was that Beatle's song,' money can't buy you love'. Thanks for stopping by.

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  12. Hey Sanddune, i've been meaning to stop by and say thanks for visiting my blog!
    Neem trees are actually very common here in Nica--they grow well on the dry sandy coast. I have used the leaves to make my own pesticide, but no luck with germinating seeds. hope you do better, saludos!
    Liz

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  13. Hi Liz,
    I have been following your blog for awhile. It is interesting to see the progress you are making there in Nicaragia. I was in Leon Nicaragua a short while back. Quite interesting place. By the way I found my first sprout from the four Neem seeds I started.It is quite small and like a fire ember I am trying to keep it going.

    ReplyDelete

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