Breaking News...Trees hate grass

I don’t know if I have any right talking about trees since my wife’s nickname is “Terri the Axe Queen”. On her half acre of property she cut down eight of ten trees so far. I'm not the outdoorsy type either, spending most of my time behind a keyboard and monitor.

Last year we bought a house with 1.40 acres of land. It was cool for a while sitting on top of he mower like a miniature race car driver, cutting the grass into neat green rows. We have about ten large eucalyptus trees near the street side of the property. When we bought the property, there were no leaves to be seen, but as soon as we moved in, they began to accumulate everywhere. I quickly noticed that if I didn't get the leaves with the mower, they could easily bury the grass. I never noticed that before. Then it occurred to that the trees also shaded the grass stealing needed sunlight from them as will.

Was this a coincidence or evolution? Then I remember hearing on the internet that even though trees have deep roots, that they get most of their water from the top soil nearest the tree. Then it would make sense that they would use their leaves to smother grass out or anything that might compete with their water supply.

Here in California, if you go to the state or national parks you notice that the only grass you see is nice manicured lawns maintained by the park service. In the wild, we just see piles of pines needles and leaves saturating the ground leaving no space for grass.

I have always considered myself a tree hugger. Albeit, I’m rarely in the wild, but I saw myself that way up until I moved to the Sacramento area. Apparently, the city fathers took to heart the greening of this area. Most residential areas have beautiful tree lined streets (I’ve loved that look since I was a kid living on the small island of Alameda). But since living up here I have noticed some disturbing side effects of trees: they fall down with unerring frequency.

I don’t hate trees, but I have a greater respect for the damage they can do then I did before. Where I worked near the American river, I saw many trees uprooted after a storm. One day as I was taking a break and walking near the river path, I heard a crash behind me. To my surprise, a huge branch had fallen 20 feet from where I stood. Had I been slower, I wouldn’t be here.

So it’s very clear that trees have no need of grass. When you plant a tree, the tree will try to build a forest. For all we know, trees and grass, may be locked in a bitter battle for supremacy; A war being waged over untold millennia. With the trees winning most of the time if the conditions are right. But maybe grass has an ally? People!

Aside from men clear cutting forests, forest fires and drought, the grass has had an ally with the American Indians. Deer and elk eat grass. The Indians would burn selected patches of forest (during the winter) to clear the trees to allow for the grasses to grow. When our forefathers arrived, they found the Americans teeming with life because the Indians had nurtured it in this way.

As the end of my treatise nears, I can only add that I like trees and grass alike. But if you have trees, rakes those leaves…your lawn will thank you…hehe.

Old Programmer does a Blog

I have been programming since the late 70's. I am one of the few programmers who have made the transition from serial languages (COBOL, Basic) to oops languages (C#, Java), from main frames to mini-computers to PC's, and I have worked with more operating systems and programming languages then I can remember anymore (the last two are Windows and AIX OS’s). It has been a long bumpy road with a few mistakes that nailed me, but with triumphs that gave me so much joy, it was better then sex.

I have gone from being the top at my game; to picking cigarette stubs out of ashtray cans (I have been so close to living on the street too many times in the last ten years). Technology is a harsh mistress! She giveth and she taketh away. She favors no one and nobody stays in her good graces forever. Eventually, we all are left at the door wanting more.

Management is no safe haven either. I have seen too many good people passed over or under and left behind in the dust. The lucky ones with stock options usually get into real estate (another failure lying in wait).

I do not mean to spoil what may be a good career chose for someone, but when you ride the leading edge, no one wants to talk about what happens when you fall off. Some day, you will fall off. Then you will have to live with the consequences.

However, I am an addict. In the beginning it was to easy for me, I got hooked young. Too young to know any better. So here I am, still programming and enjoying it. Without the perks and pay grade I had become used to.