Pruning hands on

Posted on 13 Jul, 2009 11 comments

The other day I received an email from my daughter. She had been pestering us about her fig tree which she wanted to prune, but had no idea how to go about it. I had written instructions after she had send me a photograph, but she said it was too hard to follow. So now the email was: “Can dad please come to skype and look at my tree and tell me what to do?”
Well, that really was something, I thought what a good idea. She had invented the wheel.
So I switched on skype, but she wasn’t there. Another email later she said she was setting up the computer with the camera outside, lol. I could just imagine what she had done.
So 10 minutes later I had called dad. And the lesson began.
It was just a small fig tree in a pot, it was a sucker from our big fig tree which we had on the farm. So, it had sentimental value for her. It had grown lobsided and other suckers had appeared. I think it had been strangled inside, but never mind. She didn’t really mind if it was going to bear fruit, just to have it as an ornamental tree she would be happy.
So, dad gave instructions. Keep the leader, cut off the two others, which had come outof its base underneath the soil. The leader had two side branches a long way away, so they had to be pruned. We explained about how to cut, at which bud and not between the bud and the trunk, lol. So, in the end the tree looked more decent than before.
Now she needed to plant it. She adjusted the computer so the camera would look right into her backyard. There she went to the spot between the shed and the backfence, about 2 – 3 meters away from both. “Yes, that’s about right, not too close to the fence or else the neighbours will get the fruit, or it will hang over their fence and they might cut it”. She couldn’t hear it, but soon came running back to the computer and then dad repeated what he had said.
This was all very crazy, what we were doing, but it worked. Meanwhile we had some fun looking at Molly, her Jack Russell, which was looking so strange at the sound coming from her speakers and our daughter talking back to it. Then Molly helped her plant the tree.
Prior to this day she had weeded the whole area where the tree had to be planted. She had bought some soil improver, which was probably some glorified compost, but anyway, the tree probably will love it, as it had been in this pot for at least 6 years!!! I think it might even bear fruit outof gratitude.
Now, this is not an everyday sort of thing people do, but not a bad idea I think. Thanks to the modern communication methods we now have, a tree has been saved and planted.
After all that she played with Molly inside on her new rug and we could see all of that too, because she had turned the computer around.
What an invention!

Comments

Ian_digs_v2

Wow Marguerite, thats a great story. How good is that, being able to talk your daughter through prouning it, over the internet and also being able to see the tree going in. I really don't understand the ins and outs of t'web but I think its great.
Well done daughter for being so clever :~))

13 Jul, 2009

Kmccue07

I think we're becoming the "Jetsons" LOL

13 Jul, 2009

Sandra

great tale....i love this internet stuff i talk to my friend in newsealand most mornings just before he goes to bed...lol

13 Jul, 2009

Ian_digs_v2

WOW !!!

13 Jul, 2009

Marguerite

Thank you all for your nice comments. I will get back to you when the tree is growing leaves and of course, figs.

14 Jul, 2009

Wagger

Really made me laugh - don't use skype but have read about it, good way to knock the phone companies for six, lol.

14 Jul, 2009

Raquel

skype is awesome, i have it but have yet to use it...my sister and bro-in-law use it all the time to speak to his relatives in Holland...my parents think it is too much of a pain to set up and use...I have to figure out why my camera doesn't work...I need to get to it!

I'm sure the fig tree will do well. Nice and funny blog, Marguerite.

14 Jul, 2009

Ian_digs_v2

I think I'm going to have to investigate this skype! it sounds ideal for talking to my parents who live 200 miles away.
Mind you they are both in their 80's and don't even have a mobile phone !!! :~))

14 Jul, 2009

Marguerite

Ian they do need a laptop at least and internet connection. If they are new to that, you will have to teach them, or there are many courses for the elderly in getting familiar with a computer.
Skype is a program you download for free from internet, it is for microsoft as well as for apple computers.
Nearly all new laptops have built in camera's so you can see each other then. Hope you have a camera, but at least you can buy one and attach it to your computer. But for the oldies it is much easier when built in.
The beauty of it all is, that you can talk and see each other for as long as you like and it doesn't cost anything.
It really is much better than a mobile phone. Hope they do have a PC and if not, you have to talk them into it.

15 Jul, 2009

Marguerite

Thank you Raquel for your comment and Wagger too. Raquel, I have rellies in Holland too, but the time difference has to be taken in consideration, as you cannot call someone in the middle of the night, lol. I don't have mine on all the time either, but we send emails to make a date.

15 Jul, 2009

Ian_digs_v2

Thank you Marguerite, really useful info there. I'll see what I can do re: using a pc/laptop but don't hold your breath LOL.
Mind you.......My bro. has one so an Email to him will set a date. Thanks again :~))

15 Jul, 2009

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