Pecan Grove (www.pecan-grove.net) Pecan Grove and Senior Residence

This set of pictures follows some perspectives through the various stages of road construction.  Where there was forest, the progression is dramatic.

North view of drive just after going over the hill toward the ranch house.

View east from the ranch house going toward the senior center.  Note the opening in the trees.

This view is from the mouth of the circle drive at the senior center and looking west toward the ranch house.  The leaning tree at the center of each photo will help you get your bearings on these pics.   tgh

Lots of work on the road. We can’t drive on it for another week, give or take a few days, so we are driving between the first two rows of trees. They brought cement yesterday and made a lot of dust as they tilled and mixed. I’m sure that Terry has a better and more detailed report but he can add his two cents later. kch

Lime is applied to expansive clay soils to stabilize it. Rock lime is dumped from a hopper truck on road surface then spread with a dozer. tgh

Lime and the dry soil is tilled with a large rotary mixer to an average depth of 8″. Then water is applied to make the lime ‘pop’ and permeate the soil. After several hours it is well compacted with a roller. tgh

A lot of dirt is being pushed around at the farm.

This is where the new entrance to the property will be… west of the old entrance… to provide better visibility for cars leaving the farm.  The cement pile was the foundation of an old house.  The driveway will go out at the place where the old driveway was for this house.  A couple sections of the new fence need to be removed and a new gate constructed.

Turning around and looking the other way at the same point… you can see the new portion of the driveway joining the old driveway.  The portion of the old driveway to the right will be removed.

The road through what was woods, going toward the Sr. Residence, is too wet.  The dozer is turning the ground over so it can dry out.  Once it is dry enough it will be sprayed with a stabalizing fluid (lime and cement mixture) and compacted.  Then it will be ready for a layer of crushed limestone on top.  A clay wall is being built from ground level down to the clay below the sand on the right side to keep the spring water from flowing under the road through the sand… a hidden clay dam.  Bet the beavers won’t bother this one!

The pecan trees are looking great!  We’ve had a good rain, so no need to irrigate from the lake. 

Mike and I went to see another pecan orchard about 30 miles away… it has no irrigation, and looks a lot different.  They raise hay between the trees.  These trees are 20 years old, ours are 9 years old.

The owner of this orchard showed us how to graft pecans… very interesting… we (Mike) have a lot to learn about pecans.

Mike already bought Destiny a horse, called Dude.  For now he’s Dude in Waiting, because there’s no fence yet around what will be the horse pasture.  Dude is still at his old home in Arkansas.  At the rate this fence is being built… Dude will have to wait for a long time.

Ken

Bernice and Emmy visited the farm today…  they were staying with Patrick and Karin… so came out with the Newman clan.

Terry and Kim have learned the hard way that the Newman clan descends on the farm most Saturdays, so they made other plans… suddenly they find Huntsville interesting!

We found out someone was having a birthday… but I’m not supposed to tell who or how many… don’t worry, it’s not Brent.

So this was the crew available to celebrate, with a total of 6 dogs…

Emmy found the weed below by the pond and instructed me to find out what it was… so if anyone knows, please let me know!

Ken