Most people would probably just give up and chop down the tree. Not Art.
He and my mother prize this tree because it's been providing us with some very sweet papayas.
To think I threatened to chop it down when it didn't bear fruit for over a couple of years.
After staring at it for several days, Art decided to design a crutch for it.
I had to pad the crutch so it wouldn't dig into the tree trunk. Then he wanted to make sure the wind wouldn't blow it in another direction as well as into the neighbor's fence which isn't exactly sturdy.
It's not the most attractive look, but what the heck! Our kids will tell you that their dad will go to extraordinary lengths to save a living thing.
Maybe it's part of his Buddhist upbringing?
I would be trying to save a productive tree too. You go Art. Yummy.
ReplyDeleteReally, why kill a living thing, esp. one that has served you well.
ReplyDeleteArt's invention looks simple but is ingenious. The tree is so straight!
Mrs. H and her mother would approve.
Art is wearing the right T shirt.
Good for Art. Christopher is the same, for ever bringing home half dead plants from the garden nurseries convinced that he can save them. And he often manages to.
ReplyDeleteIt's a really nice tree. I am like Art. I couldn't chop it down either. If it's a living breathing thing, I would have to rescue it.
ReplyDeleteWay to go Art. That is some brace. I've seen trees in a lot worse shape when propped up do quite well. Guess they are just like us and sometimes need just a little help.
ReplyDeleteThat Art he really is very creative! I have to admit I would have to save the tree also! Just think about the sweet fruit you receive from it. Have a good day Kay!
ReplyDeleteHow smart is that! I wonder how long the tree will have to use it's crutch?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great rescue story! And of course sweet papayas are another prize from this tree. I like the t-shirt, too. And I also wonder if one day the crutch will not be needed.
ReplyDeleteits amazing how fast that tree has grown, I remember when you planted it...
ReplyDeleteThose trees look to be thriving. I guess they enjoyed the attention.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the papaya tree would thank you, if it could, for the nifty brace. Maybe it'll thank you with double the yield of papayas! The brace looks good and the tree looks happy. Job well done, Art.
ReplyDeleteGood for Art! Trees are important. Ones you planted yourself are doubly important. And then when that tree provides lucious fruit, it must be saved!
ReplyDeleteHooray for Art and his cooperative "tree nurse" Kay!
ReplyDeleteIn '83 and '85 papayas were everywhere in Hawaii and I had them each morning. We could even get them in Kansas -- for a fee. Then, something hurt the Hawaii crop, and when visiting in 2003, the hotel papayas were coming from Chile. I rarely see the smaller papayas in Kansas. I've purchased them in jars, sometimes.
You have a precious tree. I'd pay some $ for the fruits from that special tree. (Can't sneak them in the luggage, you know...)
In Oklahoma, my family mistakenly planted a fast-growing weeping willow tree. It grows so fast, that it's not strong against the constant Okie winds. When it threatened to break apart at the fork above the main trunk, my Dad put a huge bolt through the fork. The tree grew right around it for the next 20 years, and an arborist would have to use an xray to know it's in there!
Hopefully your papaya tree won't grow around the crutch, but it's happy! Aloha, DrumMajor
We have had to put a "crutch" on a few of the Aspen trees in our yard and they have done very well. I'm glad we saved them, even though they don't have the fruit that your lovely Papaya has.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, some friends from Malaysia whom I'd met in Hawaii, wrote to me, requesting that I send them some Solo papaya seeds. They wanted to plant the seeds in their yard and considered Solo the best.
ReplyDeleteWell, I dried some papaya seeds and mailed them to Malaysia. But I never heard from them again. Don't know if the seeds were confiscated at the border. Weird!
Anything to keep the sweet papayas coming. Go for it.
ReplyDeletewonderful story Kay, complete with the blog title, I'm loving it. Art did a wonderful job, your mom must be pleased.
ReplyDeleteI hope it works.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm gonna sneak into your yard tonight and make the other tree lean some. It's gotta be feeling left out on all the fun.
ReplyDeletewalt
Dina: Art got that t-shirt when the U.S.E.P.A. was moving their Chicago offices. It was a complicated move so people directing it were given those t-shirts to wear to make them easily identifiable. It's a little... ummm... large on him.
ReplyDeleteDrumMajor: A bolt? I shall have to tell Art about that one. My idea was to cut the papaya tree about 1/3 of the way up and let a new shoot grow...eventually. Nobody paid attention to me then.
ReplyDeleteCut down the papaya tree?!?!?! No way! I would be thrilled to have one in my yard. Glad you were able to brace it up and save it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the fruit :-)
Cheers, jj
Good for Art! Gotta love a guy who saves trees. We have a couple of big poplars behind our house, and previous owners saved one with a large length of leather to hold the two sides together.
ReplyDeleteYou tell Art I said he rocks!!
Meanwhile, if I don't comment very often in the next few weeks it's because we're traveling again and internet access is sometimes difficult and often impossible, but we're thinking of you.
-- K and Dick
Good for Art! My husband is the same but has no Buddhist beliefs; perhaps they're both just decent blokes.
ReplyDeleteI am glad Art saved the tree and to you for making sure the crutch did not bite into the tree.
ReplyDeleteYeah, now I see what you mean, but the role the T shirt announces is not too big on Art.
ReplyDeleteI never understood why they make T shirts so long.
Dina: Art just told me that they ordered big t-shirts for those in charge because they had to wear it over their shirt and ties. I imagine most people were also a little larger/taller than Art. :-)
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is! I laud his effort! (And I love his shirt!)
ReplyDelete