Free Time Projects 3

[Tom]

This time I got smart and borrowed the electric jack hammer shovel from a friend.
My wife likes to buy those small potted living Christmas trees around the Hollidays. When the Hollidays are over we plant them in big pots. They do well here, but then they get too big for the pots.

I looked up what they are: Italian Stone Pines. It says these are where we get pine nuts from. My wife loves pine nuts, so this will be great in a few more years. Apparently these trees grow a great big umbrella canopy when they mature. I planted them just outside the tortoise enclosures where they should throw some great mid day and afternoon shade once they grow up.




Here is a picture I pulled form the internet of what they might looks like as mature trees:

 

[Maro2Bear]

Can’t wait for that first 5lb bag of Pine Nuts! Sign me up. ?

 

[Blackdog1714]

I bet Charlie Brown is so sad that someone stole his tree!

 

[Tom]

I bet Charlie Brown is so sad that someone stole his tree!

HA! That is funny. I'll take a picture of the one I planted a few years ago. Its not so sad now.

 

[Tom]

Can’t wait for that first 5lb bag of Pine Nuts! Sign me up. ?

I think it would take a week of working 10 hours a day to extract 5 pounds of pine nuts by hand. Don't hold your breath.

 

[Yvonne G]

Interesting. Many years ago my Texas grand daughter came to spend Christmas with me. I haven't decorated or bought a Christmas tree in many years, but she brought decorations with her, so we had to go to the store and buy a table top tree like what you've shown above. I planted it a several years ago in the leopard tortoise yard. Here's what it looks like today:



Interestingly, it was a 'blue' tree when it was a baby, but as it grew it turned green. I hope it turns out to be like the ones you've pictured. I love that look.

 

[Markw84]

I think it would take a week of working 10 hours a day to extract 5 pounds of pine nuts by hand. Don't hold your breath.

My sister and her husband are now retired and live North of Lake Tahoe. They love to spend weeks at at time in the deserts all over Nevada collecting pine nuts. They sell several hundred pounds a year. It is a lot of work!!

 

[Tom]

Here is the same type of tree (I think...) that I planted a few years back. Same situation.

 

[Tom]

New trees appear to be doing well:

 

[Pastel Tortie]

We get the seasonal potted conifers in stores in Florida heading into the winter holidays, but realistically, they'd much rather head north with Frosty the Snowman. We can grow roses year 'round, but it seems like the pretty conifers are the ones we can't grow in Florida.

 

[Tom]

We get the seasonal potted conifers in stores in Florida heading into the winter holidays, but realistically, they'd much rather head north with Frosty the Snowman. We can grow roses year 'round, but it seems like the pretty conifers are the ones we can't grow in Florida.

This species comes from Mediterranean type climates, so I'll bet it would be fine in FL, unlike other types of pine trees. These won't tolerate snow or temps much below freezing, and they like warm weather.

 

[wellington]

We get the seasonal potted conifers in stores in Florida heading into the winter holidays, but realistically, they'd much rather head north with Frosty the Snowman. We can grow roses year 'round, but it seems like the pretty conifers are the ones we can't grow in Florida.

Lol too funny. I'd rather have your tropicals and you can have all the northern ugly pines or conifers
We always want what we can't have lol.

 

[MichaelL]

Super cool. Also, nice view of the mountains!

 

[Tom]

Super cool. Also, nice view of the mountains!

Mountains? Those are some little dirt hills on my neighbors property. You flatlander you...

 

[Srmcclure]

Mountains? Those are some little dirt hills on my neighbors property. You flatlander you...

Hahaha I'm from Oklahoma, those look like mountains to me too ?

But seriously, I took a trip to Santa Cruz and California has some really beautiful mountain/ocean scenes! Not to mention the little bit of the redwood forest i got to see ? the only thing I wasn't a fan of was the smell of seals ? I guess I'm too used to cows instead lol

Also couldnt get in the ocean as there were a few large great whites spotted were I was ? im good on that. I'll respect their space lol. They can have it

 

[Tom]

Pine trees are doing well. Seeing new growth and they are standing up to our extreme summer heat with no apparent issues. I'll get current pictures to post next time.

 

[Tom]

My little pines are doing fine. I love these little trees. I talk to them every time I walk by them.