It is already over 7 years ago, since Mom's final days.
Our very last FaceTime with Mom,
thanks to my youngest brother Jan's efforts to take his iPhone to Mom at the hospital.
Pieter was outside, working with Wood Protector, when I walked out from our veranda door with the iPad, so Mom could see and hear both of us...
See link below post with photos of this very Wood Trail.
This time, Pieter did raise the trail a bit more and also used side edges with 2 by 2 wood so it stays cleaner after rain.
It got freshly stained with Wood Protector.
This is at the beginning, under the Rose Arbor, taken on May 19!
On May 8, Pieter started out on this Mega Task...
Using wood protector before the 2 by 2 is being added on the side edges.
Taking up the old boards, getting the rusted screws all out and then putting it together again...
You see some of the damaged, rotten wood and that only since January 2015...
There are bird houses on that huge oak tree, at the end.
This is close to our Gazebo as you see part of it.
On May 14, action... sand for filling up under the Wood Trail and the cart with tools...
Back breaking job for Pieter and on his knees...
He constantly gets scratches on his legs as he uses blood thinners; scary!
Here is the bottleneck; this HUGE laurel oak tree Quercus hemisphaerica has grown so much that its 'toes' are everywhere, and they elevated the wood trail.
The 2 by 2 edges have been treated and are ready to come on.
Bit by bit it will come together; once more and hope for again some 7 years or more!
I have no idea if the bird house is in use...
Maybe our birds are used to Pieter being around.
While Pieter took his nap, on May 19, I took these photos...
You see those thick 'toes' from the oak tree?
Now look at the top of that 2 x 6 inch...
So, this is what Pieter did...
Some tree pedicure and getting a piece out of one of its thick 'toes' for getting the 2 x 6 inch.
Wounded tree toes do not grow, so that will remain like that.
Shown more in detail here.
Nobody else would do such tedious work for you; so the 93-year old husband is doing it himself instead!
Figuring out a way how to, and then into action.
That 'toe' pedicure got done with the electric chain saw...
Long exterior wood screws are being used, that are also coated for rust protection...
Drilling in those screws...
Six days later on May 25, and after lots of rainy weather...
Pieter is already working behind the bottle–neck of the huge oak tree!
Our Gardenias Jasminoides Miami Supreme, were lovely but due to heavy rain the turn brown fast...
Yep, the corner has been tackled!
The 2 x 2 edges will hold the wood trail also better together as before, without any support.
But it's still a long way to go, all the way to the greenhouse...
One day, that too will be finished!
We have had lots of rain but one surprise this morning:
Pink Rain lilies or Zephyranthes grandiflora and one of about 70 species in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis family).
There is a hole in one of its petals...
Another bud to the left, soon to open up...
Related links:
{Cashmere Words of Wisdom & Update} | previous post by me
{Gardenia Dream} | previous post by me
{Gardenia by Royal Albert and our Garden Gardenias} | previous post by me
{Gardenias and Roses as Hostess Gift} | previous post by me
