Thursday, September 23, 2010

BATTLE PLAN

This year I figure to get a jump start on the upcoming annual battle that takes place every fall between my metal shed and the Avocado tree. It starts usually in October and reaches it's peak in November when the tree rains down a barrage of cannonball size Avocados onto the thin metal roof of my shed. If we get some really strong winds whole branches weighed down with the Avocados assault the shed. The end result is by the year end the sheds roof ends up a assortment of puncture holes and twisted bent metal.




Some early scouting has revealed that the Avocado forces are stocking up on ammunition for the coming assault. So I figure it's time to take a page from the military and come up with a battle plan to save the shed roof this year.






The plan involves establishing a no grow zone in the airspace above the shed roof just like the military establish a no fly zone above a battlefield. Any Avocado tree branch daring to enter this zone is to be be attacked without mercy with my expandable pole tree branch saw.




As is evident by the picture there are some violator branches sneaking out over the shed roof already that will have to be dealt with. A crack team of commando's consisting of me and my expandable pole tree saw has already been assigned the mission to take these violators out.

Unfortunately the no grow zone will require that a large portion of my Cassia bush that is growing on top of the shed will have to go. I really hate to have to cut this growth out of the bush as it will bloom about November and be just covered in yellow blooms.

But it has to be done to give access to the metal roof to repair the damaged sections from last season's assault. The Cassia branches hold the moisture over the roof and are causing it to rust so the intruding sections in the no grow zone have to go.


Here is the result after the first skirmish removing the Cassia bush overgrowth in the no grow zone. Sad for the Cassia bush ,"but to bake a cake you have to break a few eggs" eh!

The damage to the roof from last season is evident and the shed has lots of areas that will have to be hammered back somewhat into shape.



But next in line is the taking out of the tree branches from the Avocado tree that have crossed the imaginary vertical line. It is no use to repair the shed roof until this is done as the offending Avocado tree branches will indubitably hit the roof causing more damage to it. That mission is a go as soon as it stops raining here.
Other goings on around the Sandpit.

After waiting most of this month for the yard crew to show up I remembered that the yard crew consisted of me. That established, a meeting was held of the yard crew where I introduced a motion to make me the team leader of the yard crew. Hearing no distention the motion was passed by one vote. That's right I am now the official boss of my one man yard crew. Perhaps I shall take the title" El Jefe".


After all the hoopla of the election was over I did manage to make a couple more planter boxes to go into the new section of the Sandpit. They were made from scrap mostly leftover wood from other projects. Nothing fancy but that's OK they don't need to be.
Now all that remains is to convince that lazy no good yard crew of mine to get these planters ready to go for some Fall vegetables. Not an easy task.
Anyway with the battle plans drawn and the elections over I guess it is time to get to work.
---Sanddune aka" El Jefe" ---

9 comments:

  1. Teehee! I love the militant theme... El Jefe... This is great.

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  2. That avocado tree looks like it is loaded with fruit. What kind is it? I've never seen round avocadoes before.

    Good luck with your pruning efforts.

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  3. Haha! Your yard crew sounds a lot like mine. I've elected myself boss as well. Those avocado trees get huge, don't they?

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  4. Florida avocados are the best. But can be messy trees.
    Do you fight the squirrels eating the fruit?

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  5. I'm cracking up...very humorous, especially for a Friday morning!! Love it! I do like your idea of a no-grow zone. Maybe a bit difficult to maintain, but definitely the answer to the shed issues. Bummer for the Cassia. Your avacado tree is huge and beautiful!!

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  6. LOL...sounds like you've got everything under control. Isn't it great to be the boss of your own domain?

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  7. RFG,
    I have dubbed the plan "Operation hackitback".As the sheds protector I figure to get in the first lick this year with an early sneak attack thereby gaining the element of suprise on the Avocado force.

    NanaK,
    This tree is always loaded down with fruit every season. I am not sure of the type [there are over 500 varietys].The tree was here long before I moved here.

    Floridagirl,
    Way I see it might as well have a fancy title to go along with the job.

    Jim,
    The Squirrels are on the opposing force. They work as sabateurs and cut the fruit stems which cause the fruit to bomb the shed. They also like to eat the buds off of the Orchids on the Avocado tree. I rely on my dogs to keep them out of the yard but a few always slip in and munch out..

    Kimberly,
    Yes the Cassia is a collateral damage from the Avocado vs Shed war. But the Avocado tree is huge and a force not to be underestimated.

    Susan,
    Truth be known, I have nothing under control but I do have a battle plan as well as a fancy title to boot.

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  8. Hey Sanddune errr... El Jefe,
    You've got a good plan I think. I'm always one for making a plan. Had me smiling reading how it came about. Your yard crew is exactly like mine. Only I wish I could build boxes fancy or not (and arbors and pergolas and ponds ~ but I digress).

    Such a nice advantage to living so far south... your own avocadoes from your own tree. It is loaded, too.

    good luck with the veggies... you'll be glad you planted in a few months when it cools down.
    Meems

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  9. Hi Meems,
    Sorry it took so long to respond back but this is a busy time of year for me. I am working off the battle plan as time permits. Figure it is best to get it accomplished now before the Avocados start falling. Still haven't finished the vegetable beds to plant them yet. It's not easy being El Jefe !

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