7 Steps to Growing Healthy Fruit Trees

Are you dreaming of those lazy summer days, lounging in your favorite lawn chair in the sun enjoying your fresh home-grown apples, peaches, and pears? If you live here in the Pacific Northwest, unfortunately you’re most likely to be looking at more rainy days until at least June. But don’t despair, for all of those mild, wet days are just perfect for one thing—planting fruit trees.

If you haven’t grown fruit trees before, there’s a lot to know, and it may be intimidating at first. Fruit trees do have very specific requirements, including proper pollination, insect and disease control, and some regular attention to pruning very specific to each type of tree. But if you follow these 7 simple basic steps, you’ll be well on your way to many fruit-filled days.

1) Select the Correct Variety for Your Geographic Area—Fruit trees have very specific heat and chilling requirements, and something that will do well in California might not do well here in western Washington. For example, Prunus persica ‘Frost’ (Frost peach) is one of the most reliable peaches for the wet Seattle area—peaches generally prefer hotter, dryer climates. This is where your local nurserymen (and women) can help you select the best varieties. Specialty nursery staff are much more knowledgeable than the big box stores.

2) Plant in the Dormant Season—In general, always try to plant when trees are not actively growing—preferably during mild, rainy seasons when the temperature is above freezing (winter and early spring in most places). This is the least stressful time for planting trees and shrubs, and it will give your plant adequate time to settle in and develop a healthy root system.

3) Choose the Right Location for Your Tree—Fruit trees require a lot of sun for good fruit production; six hours of sunlight a day is ideal. Make sure you have enough space for the size tree you have chosen. Trees can be small columnar varieties which will fit in a large pot, all the way up to trees 20 feet or more; make sure you have adequate space for the mature tree.

4) Select Insect and Disease-Resistant Varieties—Unfortunately, you may have to provide some insect and disease control for good fruit production, but you will be way ahead of the game if you select varieties that are most resistant to the insects and diseases in your area. Ask your nursery folk which plants require the least spraying, and which are resistant to the problems in your area. But also learn about preventing insect and disease problems, if necessary.

5) Make Sure You Have Good Pollination—While some fruit trees are self-fertile, most will require a second tree of another variety to pollinate your fruit tree to get good fruit production (unless you luck out and a neighbor has one nearby that is compatible). If you’re short on space, one nifty way to get around this is to purchase an all-in-one plant that has several fruit varieties grafted onto one rootstock; you’ll get your plant pollinated—plus the added bonus of several varieties of fruit in one tree. I recently planted an all-in-one cherry (pictured) with Van, Rainier, Stella, and Bing on one tree. Skye Nursery in Shoreline even has a “Fruit Cocktail” tree which has apricots, peaches, and plums all on one tree! (I’m intrigued, but haven’t tried it yet).

6) Properly Care for Your Fruit Trees From Planting to Harvest—At planting, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; water the container—or soak the roots, if bare root; plant it, and water it in again; then water weekly during the drier months. Fertilize the tree a couple of times a year. Learn about pruning, and insect and disease control. Many nurseries have great free classes.

7) Learn How to Prune Your Tree—Every fruit tree is pruned a little differently, so take time to learn how to prune your specific type of tree. Then get on a regular pruning schedule. I took an excellent class for free at Skye Nursery which included a 1 ½ hour lecture; slides; hands-on pruning demonstrations; and hand-outs on pollination and insect and disease control. It was great, but I’m sure Molbak’s, Swanson’s, and other nurseries in the Seattle area also provide education for free. Check out their websites.

This may all seem like a lot to learn at first. But if you follow these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to growing healthy, productive fruit trees.

Cockatiels Have Much to Teach New Owner

Not long ago I started thinking about how nice it might be to liven up the home front by getting another pet. Maybe it was just my biological clock ticking, or maybe I just wanted that warm fuzzy feeling of something—well, warm and fuzzy (or feathery).

I briefly considered a puppy. What could be more engaging, livelier, and more loving? But then I thought of: accidents on the Oriental rug; digging in the flower garden; and neighbors complaining of incessant barking. I thought of my favorite childhood pet, a loveable though incorrigible Labrador retriever who was an expert escape artist; he enjoyed romping in swamps, swimming in the country club pool whenever he got the chance, and even fell through the ice on the local pond on several occasions (which required rescue by our friendly local fire department).

In other words—I came to my senses. A dog would just require too much training and time commitment. What, then? Our family had always had a large menagerie of pets when I was growing up (much to my father’s dismay). There were: cats and dogs; parrots, cockatiels, and parakeets; guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, and hamsters; and even hermit crabs, turtles, lizards, and snakes (my mother, an avid animal lover, drew the line at the boa constrictor). What about a bird, maybe a parrot?

My wonderful grandmother had given me an Amazon parrot when I was about ten years old, and I’d fallen in love with him. I’d had a series of very painful spinal surgeries which left me bedridden in a body cast for nearly two years, and he was a great source of company and comfort. A parrot—or some kind of bird—would bond with people, yet be smaller, more manageable, and easier to care for, I reasoned.
Little did I know.

I started my search for a parrot, but soon realized they required much more space and time than I had (not to mention the fact that they were extremely expensive). I finally decided upon a cockatiel, remembering cockatiels to be affectionate and entertaining, and soon found the perfect bird.

“Aussie” was a beautiful yellow Lutino cockatiel I found online, available for adoption from my local animal shelter. He was a stray that had been found at a local park, and was available for just five dollars. Five dollars—what a deal, I thought! I sat with Aussie for a while amongst all of the gerbils and rats and rabbits also available at the shelter. While he would not get on my finger, he did not seem overly frightened by my hand in his cage if I spoke softly to him, so I decided he had potential. He even came with a “free” vet check.

I excitedly took my new friend to get his “free” vet check. A friendly cockatiel greeted me from his spot on the front counter when I arrived for my appointment at a local avian veterinary clinic. I soon found out the exam, however, was not free, but 50% off a $220.00 avian exam, which would include blood, fecal, and culture lab tests. I was reminded here that there is no such thing as a free or inexpensive pet—all pets will require some expense, whether it is for food, supplies, or veterinary care.

The vet was nice and informative, though. He told me to feed my new bird pellets (not seeds, as I had many years ago), and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. He also told me, after carefully examining the markings under the wings and on the tail, that “he” was probably a “she” (though he did say sex couldn’t be absolutely confirmed without a DNA test). Off I went with some free food samples and my newly “female” pet cockatiel.

After purchasing a new cage and some bird food on my way home, I finally settled Aussie into a quiet area in my office by the window. It only took a week of quality time and hand feeding treats before Aussie decided I was her best buddy. She wanted out all of the time, riding around on my shoulder and putting her head down for scratches. In fact, she was a bit too friendly, screeching loudly for me every time I left the room or put her back in her cage. I figured she had some abandonment issues, having been a stray, so paid attention to her as much as I could, but she was very demanding.

One problem I had not really thought through was the cat issue. I had two cats, which would howl for attention and hurl themselves against the office door if I was in there talking to my bird. So I would come out, and pay attention to the cats, and then Aussie would scream for me from the office! Back I would go into the office. Or, I’d put the cats outdoors, and the bird would come out into the living room (then the cats would scratch on the front door and meow mournfully). It got pretty comical. How exactly did our family keep all of those animals sorted out when we were growing up? The important thing here is that while big parrots may be able to defend themselves against cats, smaller birds should always be kept separate from cats.

Aussie had definitely bonded with me, but after a few months I began to wonder if she shouldn’t have a friend. She wanted my attention all day long when I was home, but had no one to keep her company when I was at work. I finally decided to seek a companion for her. I decided I should get another female, since I didn’t want any babies.

But first I needed to get a bigger cage for the two birds. I soon purchased a $250.00cockatiel condo; I realized I was now in over my head monetarily, but there was no turning back now! The new gargantuan cage took over half of my office…

Off I went to find another girl bird. That was the next problem—no one at the pet stores had a clue what their birds’ sexes were. I finally found a breeder 40 miles away out in the boonies who had a beautiful little four month old pearl pied female cockatiel.

I took the frightened little girl home and quickly named her “Kiwi.”
Kiwi, a cute little spotted bird, was supposed to be hand-fed, but was petrified at first. I put her in the smaller cage in my bedroom, where she stared wide-eyed, frozen in shock and not eating for a good three days. I was worried about her, but the breeder reassured me and sent me special recipes for the scared baby. And sure enough, after three days, she began to chow down and investigate her new home.

Aussie, meanwhile, was in a separate room in the office in her cockatiel condo. Though she did not appear to appreciate the luxury accommodations, the vet and breeder recommended that the birds be kept separate for three to four weeks to rule out any contagious illnesses. But Aussie definitely didn’t like the reduced attention she was now getting, and told me so at every opportunity.

After four weeks, Kiwi became quite affectionate, and enjoyed perching on my hand and getting chin and head scratches. She also liked snuggling under my chin while I watched TV or read. Soon Kiwi too was screeching for me every time I left the room. I now had Kiwi, Aussie, and both the cats vying for my attention—it was a regular three-ring circus! I thought it was about time to introduce the two birds to each other.

I eagerly waited for the day of introduction. Excitedly I made room for Kiwi’s smaller cage next to Aussie’s “condo” in the office. I slowly brought Kiwi’s cage into the room and opened Aussie’s door, awaiting their reaction. And what happened? Well—absolutely nothing! They didn’t even look at each other. Even when I put Aussie on Kiwi’s cage, they acted as if neither one of them even existed. It was the strangest thing. I had expected some sort of territorial fighting, like cats or dogs, but—nothing happened. It had not occurred to me that since they were most likely both hand raised by humans, they would be more oriented towards people than other birds.

After a few more weeks of uneventful side-by-side living, I put the younger girl Kiwi in the big cage with Aussie. Here Kiwi, despite being the younger bird, showed a bit more dominance. Though she was not exactly aggressive, she would try to hog the food, and demand all of my attention. I tried to be careful about giving them each separate food dishes, equal treats, and equal “quality time,” but Kiwi definitely seemed to be having some jealousy issues. They finally settled on their own places on me when out—Kiwi always sat on my shoulder or snuggled under my chin, while Aussie sat on my knee. But if I gave Aussie too many head scratches, Kiwi would angrily chase her competition off my knee!

So the two of them tolerated each other—but lived for me. They screeched non-stop for my attention if they were in their cage, or they felt ignored. So into the office I’d go with special treats and chin scratches. Meanwhile, the cats moped forlornly for attention just outside the door.

Yes, the birds now had me under their control…or maybe they were just out of control. I wasn’t sure yet. I only knew that I wasn’t exactly the Bird Whisperer. And I had to be on my toes and pay attention every minute when they were out. One day I looked away momentarily, and when I turned back, Aussie was drinking my beer, and Kiwi had run off with three of my computer keys (I got two back, but the “j” key was a total loss). Beware that plastic sheets will not protect your computer from the sharp beaks of birds gone bad! And don’t give your birds beer—alcohol is not good for their health.

Well, it’s been a while now since I first got Aussie and Kiwi, and things have settled down a bit since then. However, recently I took Aussie to a second vet for a minor feather lose issue, and this avian vet said—Aussie might be a male after all! Uh oh, I thought to myself…wish these vets could get their stories straight!

I still go running when my birds call for me. I know I’m just reinforcing bad behavior, maybe encouraging the screeching…but they’re just so darn cute.

Besides, who knows—they could have me fully trained any day now.

Jazz Great Arturo Sandoval Performs in Stellar Show

It is not every day that a world renowned jazz artist with 4 Grammys, 6 Billboard Awards, and one Emmy comes to a small town. But last Friday, the little city of Edmonds, Washington was graced with the presence of Arturo Sandoval, who played at the Edmonds Center for the Performing Arts.

Sandoval, a bespectacled 62-year old man with graying hair, bounded onto the stage in a camel-colored sport coat, looking a bit professorial at first. Then he picked up his trumpet and began to play, and there was no mistaking him for anything other than the musical genius he truly is. Soon he was eliciting notes from his horn not thought humanly possible...Was that a bird? An elephant? Or the low, deep tones of a stand-up bass? Or...the sound of a woman crying?

He and his excellent band--a drummer, bassist, and pianist--started innocently enough with a couple of jazz standards by Clifford Brown. But before we knew it, the music would evolve into a madly swinging, bopping, jumping rhythm, leaving us wondering were it would all end up. In between his solos, Sandoval would snap his fingers, clap his hands, or stomp his feet, and his smiling band would gamely--and more than ably--follow him wherever he lead, never once losing track of the beat.

Sandoval seemed to be equally adept at whatever instrument he picked up, whether it be the horn; the piano; the drums; or even vocals. He told the audience that in his home country of Cuba, "boys weren't supposed to play the piano--piano was for girls." Then he jokingly shoved his piano player aside and played a beautiful piano solo. And his percussion playing on a bolero and other songs was as hot as they come. Even his vocals on "Smile" were, if not technically as accomplished, warm and melodic. He was, however, fantastic in the vocal department when it came to scatting; perhaps he was more comfortable here, where it almost seemed he was playing his voice like an instrument.

But of course Sandoval is best known for his trumpet and flugel horn. And he played his trumpet wonderfully on "Every Day I Think of You," a composition he said he wrote recently in honor of his late mentor and legendary jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie. The melody was hauntingly beautiful, expressive, and full of longing.

Sandoval appeared very relaxed and comfortable onstage, joking frequently with his band and the audience. At one point after playing a song from his newest album, "A Time For Love," he asked if anyone had heard it. Only a couple of people raised their hands. "Only one?" he said incredulously as he pulled a man up on the stage. "You tell these guys how good it is!" he said to him, and the laughing audience.

Sandoval said he was glad to play "for people who appreciate our music." He also said "the most beautiful art form created in the U.S. is jazz," to everyone's loud applause.

The band closed with a rousing, percussion-filled rendition of "Night in Tunisia," which received a standing ovation.

Arturo Sandoval is truly a musical genius. Aspiring musicians may find him awe-inspiring--or demoralizing, depending on their points of view; inspirational for his sheer virtuosity, yet despairing at ever becoming half as musically gifted. It was truly a pleasure to hear this jazz great in our very own backyard.

Lukas Nelson, Songwriter and Guitarist: Not Just Willie Nelson's Son

I was thrilled to win a couple of tickets to last Thursday night's Lukas Nelson concert in Seattle, compliments of Marlee Walker, Blues-To-Do host http://www.bluestodo.com/ Things got off to a rocky start when we showed up at the Showbox at the Market, however, and found a sign posted on the door saying the show had been moved to the Showbox Sodo, a couple of miles away. Off we rushed, none too happy about the expensive parking fees we'd just shelled out--not to mention the last-minute hustle and consequent late arrival.

But all of that was forgotten when we arrived and were quickly given free drinks for our inconvenience. The bar area was packed with a small but appreciative crowd--apparently not enough tickets were sold to fill the Showbox at the Market, but the fans were enthusiastic nevertheless. We snagged the last table in the place, and enjoyed the opening band, the Reflectacles. They were a great up-and-coming folk rock group out of L.A--talented musicians, each one playing barefoot onstage.

Next came the headliners, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real. Apparently Lukas (pictured) is the sixth son of Willie Nelson's fourth wife, and he grew up surrounded by music, playing onstage at an early age with his father, Willie, and the likes of Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings. He's also jammed onstage with many other rock and blues notable too numerous to list here, and his music has been influenced by many, including Jimi Hendrix.

And while the 22-year old guitarist and songwriter could probably coast on his father's coattails, when he began to play it was obvious that he was a talent in his own right. He played a great electric guitar (also in barefeet), and his voice was melodic and full of expression--you could definitely hear a little of his father Willie's mournful tone in there, yet it was also uniquely his own voice. His band was great, too, and I have a feeling if they're this good now, they'll be great some day. "Four Letter Word," from the album "Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real," was nice, as was "Hootchie Kootchie Man," where Lukas played the guitar solo with his teeth (no doubt channeling Hendrix).

After this excellent performance, there remains no doubt that Lukas Nelson is much more than just Willie's son--though Willie might contribute a song or vocal or two to his son's efforts now and then. http://www.promiseofthereal.com/

Obama Commemorates 10th Anniversary of War With Afghanistan by Bombing Libya

President Obama ordered a fourth night of air strikes against Libya today, saying he could think of no better way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the war with Afghanistan than "bombing bad guys." Obama said the air strikes by the U.S. and coalition forces would enforce a No Fly Zone against bad guy Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The bombing, he said, would protect good guy rebel forces--whomever they were. When asked what his long-term goals and exit plans were, the president said "I'll get back to you on that."

Obama also said, from an undisclosed location in Latin America, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear--there will not be any American boots on the ground in Libya." Since Saturday, there have been 162 Tomahawk missiles and 100 attacks launched by U.S. and allied forces. Lack of U.S. troops on the ground, though, made it difficult to ascertain who or what had been destroyed to date. Libyan leader Gadhafi emerged uninjured, however, from his Tripoli compound, which had been bombed earlier by a Tomahawk missile.

President Obama had said earlier that Gadhafi "had to go;" then said it wasn't his goal to topple the Libyan leader; then said "but let me make another thing perfectly clear...I am, er, not a wimp."

Obama's latest actions regarding Libyan air strikes continues the president's political trend towards "slapping the hippies"--pissing off the left to cozy up to the right.

Conservatives will also find there is a lot to like in the president's new war--which began suddenly, without any thought for the Constitutional requirement for Congressional approval.

President Barack Obama, a former Constitutional law professor, is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's Bully Tactics Exactly Why We Still Need Worker Protection

Suppose you had a boss that demeaned you in public? Accused you of being greedy when you just wanted to make a decent wage to support your family? Threatened to fire you, lay you off, or cut your wages and benefits? Who saw no value in your service to the public, and who accused you of bankrupting the state and even causing the country's economic recession? Who finally, along with his cronies behind closed doors, and without any input from you, shredded your and your fellow employees' contracts to bits?

This is essentially what Governor Walker and fellow Republicans did in a secret meeting on March 9, when they "voted" to eliminate most union collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin public employees. The vote was held behind locked doors, with only one Democrat present, and no notification to the public as to the new bill's contents.

Walker had previously stated that he was only interested in getting the state budget balanced by asking for union pay and benefit cuts, as well as repeal of collective bargaining rights. Walker, however, had recently passed several tax cuts for businesses--including allowing new businesses in Wisconsin state to pay no taxes for two years--which were estimated to cost the state a severe loss in tax revenues in the future. Unions had also agreed to previous pay cuts and reductions in future pay, as well as higher contributions to health and pension plans, and were offering to do so again.

Yet Governor Walker was not satisfied with mere taxpayer savings, and held out for repeal of state workers' collective bargaining rights. Democratic lawmakers meanwhile had fled the state to stall his bill, and loud protests against the union-busting portion of the bill had gone on for more than three weeks in the state capitol. In a sudden surprise move, Walker and fellow Republicans took the budget portions out of the bill, and in a secret closed session voted for the revised bill which would eliminate collective bargaining rights. Walker asserted that they didn't have to have any public input on the bill, or have Democrats vote on it, because the revised version no longer contained any budgetary items.

Walkers' and fellow Republicans' bully tactics and disrespect for the democratic process demonstrate exactly why we still need worker protections. Public employees contribute much to this society, and deserve more respect. They are teachers, public health nurses, food safety inspectors, librarians, and street and parks maintenance workers--among many others. They work hard, and have already made many financial concessions in Wisconsin and many other states. They've taken pay cuts, wage freezes, and are being asked to take unpaid furloughs, as well as contribute more to retirement and health plans.

They do not, according to recent statistics, make more than the average non-union private employee.

And they did not--contrary to some efforts by Republicans to divert the real blame from shameless crooks in banking and on Wall Street--cause the economic melt down. They're just working and middle class people like you, trying to get by in this never-ending economic downturn. Some day Americans will wake up and realize this, and Republicans and Tea Party activists should think long and hard about kicking the working class when they're down--it's bound to come back to haunt them some day.

While Governor Walker did sign the anti-union bill into law on March 11, on March 18, Dade County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi entered a temporary restraining order against it, saying the original secret committe vote violated Wisconsin's open meeting law.

Efforts are also under way by some to recall the Republicans who voted for the union-busting bill http://www.recalltherepublican8.com/ But whatever happens in the long run, it appears there are many people who will continue to fight for fair democratic process--as well as the rights of America's working class and middle class citizens.

Great Free Blues Wednesday Nights at 88 Keys Dueling Piano Bar in Seattle

If you're in the mood for some free, fabulous mid-week music, head on down to the 88 Keys Piano Bar http://ilove88keys.com/ in Pioneer Square on Wednesday nights. Between 6-8 p.m., host Marlee Walker interviews blues acts, and films their live performances for her show, Blues-To-Do-TV http://www.scantv.org/ I've caught several acts so far, and I certainly have not been disappointed.

Last night I heard Aury Moore (pictured), who performed some hot blues numbers with powerful, knock-out vocals. Her band was smoking, too, with especially nice renditions of "Stormy Monday" and "Dear Prudence."

After the Blues-To-Do-TV filming, the fun continued with Lynn Sorensen and Doug McGrew from Bad Company, along with Michael Johnson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. These guys will knock your socks off with their playing, so be sure to stick around.

On street parking is easy to find and free after 6 p.m., and host Marlee Walker and 88 Keys staff are friendly and welcoming. So show some support for our local Seattle-Tacoma blues musicians by heading on down for some red-hot, free music on Wednesday nights at the 88 Keys.

For more information on the upcoming performances and other local blues events, check out http://www.bluestodo.com/ See you all there...