This is a Turkey Oak. This type of tree thrives in poor sandy soil throughout the southeastern US. It earned its name by having lobed leaves that are reminiscent of a turkey's foot. The tree withstands strong winds, produces acorns to feed the wildlife and has beautiful fall color.
On the flip side, its wood is weak and has no timber value, it is messy and it will grow shoots from runners throughout your yard.
Regardless....we like it!
Sadly, this tree developed a hole in it. Although an animal might consider it a worthy home, it made the tree weak and vulnerable to winds.
Our "tree guy" told us we had two options:
1. Cut it down now and remove it.
2. Cut it up after it falls on the fence and remove it.
We chose option 1.
In an effort to strike a compromise:
The tree can still contribute to feeding the critters!
The minute I stepped into the house after mounting the feeding platform
a crow hopped onto it to check it out.
And...
the minute I stepped outside to take a picture,
he flew off!
This afternoon the Mister called from the hospital. He had passed his walking test (can he walk a certain distance without oxygen, and without his pulse ox dipping below 90? Yes, he can!). He passed his swallowing test - we questioned that one, but pneumonia can be caused by aspiration. Antibiotics had been called into the pharmacy....he was ready to be released.
I sprung the man around 3:30. We are home. He is happy. He sounds good. Now he just needs to rest and recuperate.
We were scheduled to go to the community BINGO and dinner....instead, I ran up and paid for our 'dinner' - $12 for both of us, and picked up chicken fingers and dinner rolls. I decided not to get the salad, shying away from packaged greens because of cyclosporiasis. They weren't ready to dish up the ice cream yet, so we had to fend for ourselves and eat from our own ice cream stash!
