Wow! I can't believe it's been almost a year since I first came here looking for help. Reading over the thread, I find myself getting a bit emotional... not only over memories of challenging circumstances, but even more so because of the many fine examples of wit and wisdom to be found in this forum.
You folks were the silver lining to our cloud.:rockn:
The trees are thriving, though you wouldn't have known it last month when the water guys were here. The oaks, the walnut, and the pecans were looking pretty puny right about then... because of the Frankenweather of April.
In this neck of the woods, on the night of April Fool's, a wicked-looking double-ringed full moon held sway in the sky. Out here, folks say a moon like that signals "falling weather". Well, indeed, the weather did fall.
One day, it was 72 degrees out, the next it was 42, and in 2 more, it was 12. The elm, hardy old man that he is, was the most resistant to the freeze and still green by the time the weather broke, but the other trees' leaves were all black and shriveled. Not the tiniest hint of green could be seen on the trees for at least 6 weeks. In fact, this whole area was looking "not right" for the time of year. We're no strangers to spring frosts here, but this - well... it was over the top, you might say. I've never seen anything like it in my life. Let a freakish weather event like that blacken the newborn leaves on half the trees, and people really start missing them. There was a kind of collective sense of disorientation and loss going around here in early Spring '07.
The pecans haven't recovered even yet. They seem to have been the most hurt by the freeze. Their leaves are growing like fur on the big main branches, if you know what I mean. Like maybe the growth of the smaller, new branches was stunted. I don't suppose they'll produce pecans this year. Any thoughts?
And will the oak produce acorns? Foraging critters might have a tough time this winter.
BTW, I haven't done any professional writing so far, as this is some sort of latent talent that I'm not sure of yet.
Thanks, everyone, for your kind replies.