Blackberry leaves come out before any flowers.

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Lots of blackberries coming along by the upper pond.

Lots of blackberries coming along by the upper pond.

Lots of blackberries coming along by the upper pond.

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It was sweet, even if a bit on the small side.

Dying willow

Another piece fell off the dying willow by the upper pond. There is another one coming up in the pond, but more importantly, this is a hazard now to humans working or playing around the north edge of the pond. I think a good strong rope and a come along will topple it and allow me to give it direction. Perhaps aided by some chain saw cuts. Little leery of working underneath it with the chainsaw, given how rotten the top part appears to be. Most likely will toss a weighted line and pull up a rope to get a grip on it and see if it can be simply pulled. Pretty sure the direction I want is along the contour line where it is now, just above the pond at its highest.

dying willow tree

In a few short years, the willow tree was surrounded by bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and up hill to the right, persimmons and locusts. I think it was mainly old age, the top was a bit ragged back in 1999 when we moved in.

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The blackberry clump wants to expand. This year I will let it, but think I need a path between or behind somehow.

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The willow has been dead for several years, and will be very awkward to cut down

Black locust in bloom

7 4 Willow Blackberry guild in context

Black Locust in Bloom, upper pond Black locust in bloom

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Will see how well this works as a row of blackberries. I suspect the path is much too narrow, considering how tall and falling over these guys get.

The old willow finally fell down. No big storm, I guess just got tired and laid down. Unfortunately, it has lain down on top of some persimmons and a bunch of bush honeysuckle, multiflora roses and blackberry. Not sure I want to even bother trying to get it out, even it the trunck will make a really good base for a log pile berm.

The old willow finally fell down. No big storm, I guess just got tired and laid down. Unfortunately, it has lain down on top of some persimmons and a bunch of bush honeysuckle, multiflora roses and blackberry. The top of the willow is resting about 10 feet above the ground at this point, hidden amongst the other plants. Not sure I want to even bother trying to get it out, even it the trunk will make a really good base for a log pile berm.

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