That香蕉视频直播檚 the number of trees Gjoa Taylor and partner John Bilodeau have planted at their Naramata Bench 香蕉视频直播楪joa香蕉视频直播檚 Vineyard香蕉视频直播� property, on the agricultural west side of Okanagan Lake just north of Penticton town site.
香蕉视频直播淚 left a demanding job with a plan to be a farmer again,香蕉视频直播� is how Gjoa describes some major life changes. 香蕉视频直播淚 grew up on a farm in Alberta. A desire to be closer to the land again inspired this enterprise.香蕉视频直播�
Just beyond expansive windows where I香蕉视频直播檓 sitting, an attractive treed rockery opens onto almost five acres of grape vines that stream toward a colourful palisade of 40 香蕉视频直播� 60 year old native trees. There are cottonwoods, red osier dogwood, trembling aspen香蕉视频直播aturalized weeping willow...and, within their property, their own tree additions on the verge of Strutt Creek, a protected Environmental Reserve.
Gjoa gestures toward additional plantings on their east and south property lines.
Pleased at my response to the verdant panorama Gjoa adds, 香蕉视频直播淭he view is always changing with a million shades of green! By autumn there香蕉视频直播檚 every colour of the rainbow.香蕉视频直播�
Tree additions, the restoration of a small wetland, and Fire Smart removal of fourteen trees meant 香蕉视频直播淎 big job香蕉视频直播�, though well worth it.
On a tour of Gjoa and John香蕉视频直播檚 7.5 acre property, I learn that saving, adding and maintaining trees has been a challenging project. Many early tree plantings were unsuccessful. 香蕉视频直播淲e also struggled with some existing European white birch, a beautiful tree香蕉视频直播adly not drought tolerant and prone to attack by birch borer insects.香蕉视频直播�
Fortunately John found creative ways to retain the trunks of the white birch香蕉视频直播s whimsical pencils. The white bark, slender trunks and sharpened coloured pencil lead tops have lent themselves to unique wildlife homes.
香蕉视频直播淥bviously, with also a 30% loss to our Excelsa cedar experiments we needed a new tree plan,香蕉视频直播� Gjoa confirms. Tree choices now must be drought tolerant, fire retardant where possible, with an eye on the tree relationship to vineyard vines.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 critical to avoid overshadowing the vines,香蕉视频直播� John explains. 香蕉视频直播淔ortunately we香蕉视频直播檝e discovered that paper birch, given sufficient set-back, does allow good light through.香蕉视频直播�
To avert a major loss if a problem arises with one species, Gjoa & John have focused on a variety of tree species.
Among their hard won successes are Cleveland Select pear, Scarlet English hawthorn, Golden rain tree, Ivory Silk lilac, European hornbeam, Amur red maple, mountain ash, columnar aspen and thoughtfully selected evergreens such as Douglas fir, Ponderosa and mountain pine.
Choosing more wisely has also meant trying exotic species like the Eastern redbud that brightens a deck area with bright pink blossoms in the spring, and golden leaves in the fall. It also attracts lots of bees!
Pollinators, birds and small wildlife are encouraged, except for pocket gophers. They香蕉视频直播檙e given a quick exit. Rain catchment from the barn roof and irrigation water has been channelled to the tree additions. When necessary, John has hand-watered.
香蕉视频直播淎 lot of work with lots of professional help too,香蕉视频直播� John offers, scanning their well-treed and refreshingly 香蕉视频直播榗ool香蕉视频直播� vineyard property.
To contact Dianne please go to writer@diannebersea.com
