Drake Chinese Elm Seedlings Removal

Holy smokes, but I do sincerely think this year was a bumper crop for seeds and seedlings from the Drake Chinese Elm tree in my front yard. I have never in my life experienced anything like this; i.e., so many seedlings proliferating my front yard grass, gardens and even back and side yards.

Drake Chinese Elm Tree Seeds and Seedlings
"The Bane of My Existence" ~ JaguarJulie Ann Brady !!

As of this writing, I have spent well over 32 hours pulling the seedlings. I finish an area and next thing you know, I'm back where I started. As you look at the photos of the seedlings throughout my yard, know that these photos were taken on about the 5th outing of pulling them, over the course of a few weeks. Will they ever end?

Drake Chinese Elm Seedlings under the Daisy Bushes

I hated to do it, but on Friday, January 16, 2015, I had Camden and Son Tree Service take out that Drake Chinese Elm tree! Now, I am awaiting the stump removal although we have encountered a big challenge that I will tell you about in a future blog post.

Drake Chinese Elm Tree Stump - Awaiting Removal

Seedlings : The Bane of My Existence!

When I was researching the seeds of this elm tree, I happened upon a blog post that I well could have written! My Garden Nemesis? Drake Elm Seedlings was penned on March 5, 2011, but it could have been written today! I too experienced a bumper crop of acorns from my oak trees in my back yard; but, then came the Drake Chinese Elm seedlings!!

Drake Chinese Elm Seedlings under the Daisy Bushes - Take Two

The day I contemplated pruning vs. removal of that tree, two of my female neighbors came down to talk with me. It just so happens, one of these neighbors was the inspiration for the previous owner of my property actually PLANTING that Drake Chinese Elm tree. It seems, he loved the way it looked!!! OK, maybe I did, but the tree is a messy tree. That inspiring neighbor laughed and said, "I tell everyone the tree is pooping!" That's why she has a blue tarp over her white car that is parked in her drive. Now, the other neighbor? Well, she had that tree removed!!

Drake Chinese Elm Seedlings in the red accent stone

We talked about all the seeds and seedlings. It doesn't seem to bother that one neighbor as she really doesn't do the type of yard and garden work that I do. She says, "I let the lawn mower cut off the tops." Well, the seedlings are still there. I'll have to walk down and visit her one day to see how her seedlings are prospering!

Drake Chinese Elm Seedlings in the side yard cypress mulch

Seedlings Removal - Pulling the Seedlings!

I have tried a variety of methods to remove the seedlings, but it all comes back to a hand job! I put on a pair of Playtex rubber gloves and go at it. The most satisfying method is to head for the area of the yard with the greatest density of these seedlings - where they look like a carton of sprouts in the grocery produce department! You use your entire hand, and descend upon the area, closing your fingers into your palm. Then, you pull up that area. You'll get some mulch too if you are working in a mulch area. It's also easier to work on the seedlings if the ground is a little moist, and not bone dry.

Drake Chinese Elm Seedlings in the side yard cypress mulch - Take Two

Pulling the seedlings out of the St. Augustine grass is fairly easy. Again, you do better to try this in the early morning before the sun has dried out the grass. I've not really tackled my grass yet, but will do that next. Last year, I spent a lot of time at the edge of my front yard, pulling the seedlings from the neighbor's grass. It was like the seedlings were waving at me!!! Pick me, pick me.

The toughest area to pull the seedlings is definitely the accent stone. You need to wait until the seedlings are more than an inch above the stone because the rubber gloves do not protect your fingers. Your hands will be sore at the end of the day and hopefully you won't have broken any nails!!

Cardinal Birds Help

There were a lot of different birds, along with many squirrels, that came to the Drake Chinese Elm tree to eat the seeds. Each time a critter would visit the tree, more seeds would be falling in clumps on my front lawn, along with the wafer thin seeds falling like snow helter skelter, and more of the seeds being carried with the wind here and there.

Red Cardinal Bird eating the Drake Chinese Elm Seeds

The family of cardinal birds have been visiting since the tree was removed. I hear and see them in the front garden outside my kitchen window. Although I have worked the mulch and stone in that area on several occasions, there are still a LOT of seeds waiting to become little seedlings. I am thankful for the birds visiting and encourage them to fill up!

Drake Chinese Elm Tree Seedlings
"The Bane of My Existence" ~ JaguarJulie Ann Brady !!

An Opportunity?

A friend laughed about the seedlings story I related. "You have a Drake Chinese Elm nursery." You know, that might be an idea! I do have a large back yard. I am seriously wondering ... should I actually try growing the seedlings and sell the little trees? I think I have over a dozen little Drake Chinese Elm Tree Seedlings in that photo. What do you think? Wanna buy an elm tree? Maybe that is an opportunity to explore to turn a positive out of the bane of my existence ... the Drake Chinese Elm seedling! Oh my. Are we done yet?

The Sunflower Project : Free Seeds and Paying it Forward

I am using this blog post to officially launch The Sunflower Project, a "Paying it Forward" kind of effort. The project is originating in Jacksonville, Florida and looking to connect with my readership base throughout the United States of America. In the beginning, I started with a few packets of Burpee's Sunflower Seeds. I mapped out an area in my backyard for a sunflower garden. That was the germination for The Sunflower Project.

Pretty Warm Sunflowers in a Vase - Sunflowers from My Garden
Photo taken by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Now, the emphasis is on continuing the germination. In a nutshell, The Sunflower Project begins with packets of free sunflower seeds which are sent out to those who will be participating in the project. Once the sunflower seeds are received, they are planted and their growth is charted.

When the sunflowers are fully grown, the participants will harvest their own sunflower seeds. And, those sunflower seeds will then be passed on to new participants in The Sunflower Project.

The "paying it forward" will continue on from participant to participant sending on their harvested sunflower seeds.

Harvesting Sunflower Seeds from the First Sunflower Head
Photo taken by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Recently, I have been harvesting sunflower seeds from several of my dried sunflower heads. I will be preparing the seed packets for shipping out to participants by the end of June 2013.

We would hope to see the participants being inspired to write about their experiences and share their own sunflower photos along the way.

Are you interested in participating? The first step is to indicate your interest by leaving a comment on this blog post. We will then be working to get your contact information, along with mailing address.

Do you have a green or yellow thumb? Have you ever grown sunflowers before? Want to get involved in this project?

P.S. After you have added your comment here on this blog post that you want to participate, please send me your full shipping information.

Working on The Sunflower Project

The first full day of The Sunflower Project, we had 4 early adopters who signed up right out of the gate: Kyra, Rachelle, Casey, and Carolan. Day two, four more participants signed up; Cris, Lynda, Tony and Charity. Eight packets of seeds have been dispatched to the participants.

Day three brought in two more expert flower gardeners, Debbie and Lillian. Don't be left behind. I have got a gazillion sunflower seeds already harvested. Not ready to put them in a bird feeder. Get your free seeds now.

Three Sunflower Seed Packets from The Sunflower Project
Photo taken June 12, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Last night, I was up until just short of Midnight harvesting the seeds from all the sunflower heads that I have been drying. Take a look at all those seeds! I have already filled 9 seed packets from the first couple of dried heads; now I have a lot more seed packets to prepare.

An assortment of sunflower seeds harvested from the blossom heads
Photo taken on June 13, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Isn't it remarkable how much difference there are in those seeds? In the little piles on the two trays above, each of those piles represent one sunflower head's seeds! I worked on 18 sunflower heads to gather their seeds! My next step is to create the little seed packets and fill them with these seeds.

I've written about the largest sunflower head from my garden in a previous blog post. It weighed over 8 ounces. You can see the seeds I extracted from that head in the above picture, top tray, far upper left pile. That's a lot of seeds! I've also got a variety of colors in those seeds, not just the typical black. There are white seeds, tan seeds, brown seeds, and black seeds.

I wonder just how many sunflower seeds there are on those two trays?

The Sunflower Project
Plant these seeds and then Pay it Forward.
http://jaguarjulie.blogspot.com

Have you signed up to participate in The Sunflower Project yet? Hey! What are you waiting for? An engraved invitation. This is it. Your time is here. Time to plant the seeds. Looking forward to the growing season 2014! I have a plethora of sunflower seeds prepared to distribute before the next season. All you have to do is sign up and let me know you'd like to participate.

The Sunflower Project Blooms!

Labor Day, September 2, 2013: I have heard from one of The Sunflower Project participants, Lynda Makara! Oh my, but she did a fabulous "job" with her free packet of sunflower seeds. She has written a Zujava leaf, The Sunflower Project: Sunflower Seed Giveaway, which is quite remarkable! Honestly, I am so inspired by the beautiful backdrop she had for her sunflower garden. She is obviously a talented painter too as you should see her sunflower painting. Thanks Lynda for making this such an inspirational and joyous experience!

 PS Please do not steal my original images and written content. Be authentic and original. Be yourself and stop trying to be me. You know?