The good news is, we're not moving far away, and that the new house has an even bigger yard! In early negotiations with Dr. Wife, I claimed all lands south of the house and pool, the perimeter, and the land behind the garage, which means I'll have approximately 50% more land for fruit trees! It also means I'll get to go on one wild fruit tree shopping spree this winter as I re-plant. As much as I love my current home and yard, I can 't help but be exited at being able to start over with a completely blank slate, armed with all of the knowledge and experience that I've gained. Hopefully our house will sell quickly, and I'll be running irrigation lines and planting trees at the new house very soon.
We'll miss you .
It's official, we're moving. After 5+ years of horticultural backyard fun, it's really hard to leave. I put a lot of time and money into my suburban orchard, not to mention a lot of love and care. Planting a tree or a garden really does tie you to the land in a special way. I know it's just a typical lot to most, but I know where the soil is best, where to find geckos and frogs, and where all my different plants like to grow. It was very difficult to do, but I removed many of the fruit trees for the sake of "landscape value". I don't get it, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I kept what I could in pots to transplant later. I also hate leaving the greenhouse, since I spent so much time and effort building it last year, but it is what it is. I could try to take it down and reconstruct it, but it's pretty heavily reinforced, and I don't know if I could get it to go back together correctly. I'm planning on taking my rain tanks with me, but I haven't figured out how I'm going to do it yet.
The good news is, we're not moving far away, and that the new house has an even bigger yard! In early negotiations with Dr. Wife, I claimed all lands south of the house and pool, the perimeter, and the land behind the garage, which means I'll have approximately 50% more land for fruit trees! It also means I'll get to go on one wild fruit tree shopping spree this winter as I re-plant. As much as I love my current home and yard, I can 't help but be exited at being able to start over with a completely blank slate, armed with all of the knowledge and experience that I've gained. Hopefully our house will sell quickly, and I'll be running irrigation lines and planting trees at the new house very soon.
10 Comments
6/29/2013 08:19:09 am
Hi Clayton, I am excited for you and family getting a new house with more space . You have a gold mine of knowledge of fruits and a new slate for research and growing the fruits you best like. You can put a plan together and then work your plan. You can be particular what gets planted or not. You could write a book on your experiences. I know I would buy and read it. Good luck with the move. Houses are selling well at this time. Blessings, Yvonne
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Erin M
6/29/2013 03:31:08 pm
Sorry you're having to leave the yard you poured so much love into. But...I am thrilled for you having more space for trees. I really hope you're not too busy to take some pictures and keep us in the loop. :-)
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Clayton
6/29/2013 11:13:25 pm
I'm going to try. I used to write the majority of my blog posts during my lunch break at work, but my new job doesn't allow that. Unfortunately, that means I've fallen behind on posting, and when I'm home, there's so many other things to do. I'll try to find some time to keep posting.
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Fran H
7/10/2013 08:58:28 am
Good luck with the move and hopefully you will be able to post soon. I appreciate all of the information you provide and it has been most helpful with I have been selecting fruit trees.
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Chai family
7/19/2013 02:30:31 am
We're new to Houston and discovered your website yesterday. It's wonderful. We hope to learn from your experiences, such as what does well and what doesn't in this area. Regarding your avocado trees, could you please share where you get the sandy topsoil--a local park or something like that? We hope to achieve a measure of your success and eat more from the backyard vs. the grocery store. Good luck on the move; glad you're still in Houston. :)
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Marianne
7/31/2013 09:52:23 pm
I just discovered your blog a few minutes ago and already love it. I now know that the lime tree we purchased in February has Asian citrus leaf miner issues, I don't feel like such a failure because my my Brazos Bell avocado is dead, and I am inspired to learn more about growing stuff. In Southern CA where I grew up , we just planted whatever and it grew ~ a little more tricky here. Thanks for all your information, and good luck with the move to the new house!
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Denise Miller
8/6/2013 04:32:42 am
Found your blog recently and am very glad you are staying in the area. I garden in NW Houston (high density orchard, school garden, home garden) and was pleased to find all the specific local information you have shared. Wonderful resource.
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Ma Bell
8/12/2013 02:26:46 am
Can't wait to see what you do with your new space. I'm sure it will be amazing! You are amazing person!!
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Recently discovered your blog and love it. I live a bit north near lake conroe and am working on my own orchard much to the consternation of my fussy neighbors. Tennessee everberring mulberries and strawberry guavas have been my favorite fruits so far (found them both at calloways in richmond).
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Kris
3/24/2017 02:08:13 pm
Well, I still can't find your new blog. I knew that they would start charging which is why I didn't join at the "free blogging site." Ain't nothing free!
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Clayton Bell
I'm a geologist in Houston, Texas who loves growing fruit trees.
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