Sadly, I guess I won't have any martins this year........

[geneinmurphy]

I have a 30' high wild cherry tree in my back yard that was partially blocking the view of my T14. It also happenes to be the favorite tree for our finches to lite in and also our hummingbirds when they arrive. They also like a nearby (apx 20' away) pine tree. I had mentioned to my wife several months ago that I had though about cutting down the cherry tree, and she never said not to and actually didn't say much about it. So about a week and a half ago when off from work one day I cut it down. My wife had a fit when she got home from work and saw the tree down, sayng that was her hummingbirds' favorite tree. She wouldn't hardly speak to me for several days and when she did say something, it was that if I (and right now is usually when I put up my racks here in western North Carolina...last year my first PM arrived 3/12/07) if put up my gourd racks, she would tear them down. I have been raising PM's eight years now and will miss them immensely unless something drastic happens and she has a change of heart......

[Guest]

You better do some sweet talking and quick.

I had my grandson cut down a pear tree last year and kinda had a similar situation,I can't remember how I got her over it ,I guess I probably sent her to the casino.


dick

[Guest]

Hey Gene,

I don't have a clue what to tell you. Think you might ought to hide your stuff? She might not waite till you put it up. You might think about planting another cherry tree real fast. I used to have a saying that went like this" Sometimes it's better to ask for forgivess than to ask for permission". I don't think that would be the case in your situation.

Wishing you the best of luck,

[JoLita]

Uh oh! Gene.

You have really done it now!!! Better do as Harley says and get another cherry tree and a very good quality diamond ring to go along with it. Apologize very sweetly and sincerely; and then get OUT THERE AND PUT UP THOSE GOURD RACKS!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck to you!

Jo Lita

[geneinmurphy]

cherry trees for sale...at least around here.....and they grow pretty slow..

[Guest]

Gene,

Convince her that you feel so bad about "The Misunderstanding" that you are willing to order one of those new hybrd cherry trees that will grow fast and be so much more beautiful than the old one that you mistakenly cut down. Then get some of those seed cataloges and order a new cherry tree. THEN GO OUT AND BUY THAT DIAMOND RING AND BEG FOR MERCY.
Can you tell I've done some damage control myself?

Still wishing you luck,

[Guest]

Gene,

Convince her that you feel so bad about "The Misunderstanding" that you are willing to order one of those new hybrd cherry trees that will grow fast and be so much more beautiful than the old one that you mistakenly cut down. Then get some of those seed cataloges and order a new cherry tree. THEN GO OUT AND BUY THAT DIAMOND RING AND BEG FOR MERCY.
Can you tell I've done some damage control myself?

Still wishing you luck,

[Bernie Nikolai]

Gene, horticulture is another hobby of mine and I have a hobby orchard of about 300 fruit trees at my main purple martin site. Why not do a search on "dwarf sweet cherry trees" on Google? There are new cherry trees out that produce 50 lbs of full sized sweet cherries, do not need to be pollinated by another variety as they are self fertile, and the tree only grows to 6 or 7 ft. in height. This is due to the tree being grafted on special dwarfing rootstock. A "normal" sweet cherry tree can easily exceed 40 ft. in height when mature.

So you just "sorely repent" to the wife, tell her you ordered a "very special sweet cherry tree" which arrives as a whip in the mail, plant it, and away you go. Truly outstanding sweet cherries, and a tree that will never interfere with your martins. My counselling bill is in the mail....

[The Olsons]

Gene,

I feel so bad for you...I should not get involved in your personal life, but I would also tell her that you are sorry about the "misunderstanding"...she never really said "no" when you asked to cut the tree down. I really do hope for you and the martins that you get to put up you housing.

Maybe you can treat your wife with something special and nice she wanted for a long time....or plan a designated area in your yard just for her hummingbirds with all kind of hummingbird plants and a new cherry tree, that will not block your T-14....

Best wishes and please keep us posted

Astrid

[bwenger]

Gene,

Hopefully that old saying 'time will heal all things' will work in your case. I have wanted to cut down a tree that my mother in law planted years ago, which is close to my martin pole, but since she is gone, my wife does not want it cut down. I know if my mother in law was living, she would say
cut it down, but it may not be worth the headaches, and you know what I mean.

I had to cut 3-4 other trees down just to make room on the other side of the yard, but 'no problem with that'.

Good luck in the coming weeks. Once the martins start to fly around, and sit on your pole, your wife will probably give in and have you put up the house.

Before that happens, you may want to order one or two cherry trees to help break the ice!

Bill

[Guest]

I think it's time to start looking for a new wife.

[Guest]

Personally, I'd be looking for another wife! I don't grip about my wifes' cross stitching/needle piont or mom, she leaves me and my PMs alone. Heck, she even watches them sometimes

Chuck

[Guest]

I'd say that if she never told you not to, then got that spiteful about it afterward, that's a pretty tough situation. I feel for you, really. I hope you're able to work it all out. Would your neighbor let you put up a system where you could still watch the martins? Geez. This is hard to believe. Sorry for my bluntness, but sometimes things just blow my mind.

[Craig Haddox]

I would not give up my martins for anything or anybody period!!!

[Guest]

Gene, I don't know if that cherry tree was a native tree, but if it was a "foreign" variety, you have actually done a good thing. Go to Enature.com and do a search of native plants for your zip code. These are the plants you and all of us should be planting. Not Bradford Pears--it's no coincidence that House Sparrows love Bradford Pear trees. Not foreign cherry trees--which were one of the things suspected of causing the Colony Collapse Disorder that has been affecting our bees. With spring approaching, it is the perfect time to plan a native garden area, as Astrid suggested, full of the plants that our native species need to survive. It doesn't even have to be a huge area. Adding even a few well-chosen native plants will bring more wildlife than just hummingbirds to your yard, and I guarantee you your wife will more than forgive you if you do this. You will feel just as good as you do when you host your martins, I'm sure.

[Guest]

Hi Gene,
I am really sorry about the misunderstanding. You know, my best advice, and I am a female, is just tell her how truly sorry you are and ask her to please forgive you. I wouldn't need a diamond ring or anything. Just a sincere apology. Tell her the sweet little PM's don't deserve to loose a home because you made a terrible mistake. And maybe y'all could go look for something that would bloom a beautiful red color for the hummers! They love anything red. There is a really beautiful little crabapple tree that has nice spring blooms and has reddish purple leaves. I think you could locate one easily. They grow pretty fast and are somewhat a native tree to your area. It would be a much better choice to get something native and better for the birds.
We just bought some property in North Carolina! It's beautiful. Tell her you will take her to find a tree that can replace the one you cut down. But I really thing just a sincere apology and asking for her to forgive you is the best thing. good luck and let us know!!!

[Guest]

Pull out the billfold or your rathole if you have one and call a tree removal/transplant facility and bring one in as a surprize,,,,I'd say we are talking about a $1000 plus for this rather than a diamond,might as well have them plant a couple new PM poles too while they are at it.

dick

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Gene:

Jewelry, lots of shiny new jewelry. Worked for me.

Tim

[Carlton]

A brand new BMW would really look nice in your garage about now.

[Al Denton]

"Diamonds are a girl's best friend" You could also have the stump removed and get a new, good sized cherry tree dropped in it's place. Money wise you'd come out about even either way. Do it quick though Gene. Your martins are on the way