still tinkering

Still in the raw stages here. I had some photos of three Eastern Grey Squirrels in the Elm tree this morning, and sufferred through uploading it twice to background the title, and still don't have it the way I want. The editing software is on the other comp, so on to that some other time!

I was glad to see the three squirrels at once; that means all are accounted for. I don't know how much more browsing the old Elm can handle-it has been nibbled at every day for months by the squirrels, who go to great lengths to get the tiny buds.

I was wondering if this browsing habit lends the umbrella shape to the mature elm. The squirrels are obviously pruning out every bud but those on the outermost tips of the branches-opening the tree up.

Once the surviving buds branch out at the tips this spring, the branches will be heavy at the tips, giving the pendulous appearance of old Elms.

I have lost several smaller Elms the last couple of years to probably Dutch Elm disease and hope this one manages to avoid contracting it. Unless the squirrels are physically transferring the disease from tree to tree. In which case, no amount of goat poop fertilizer will save it.