You had a good winter life on our porch.
I always show the success of the hard garden work and love from my dear wife Karen and I.
Some of you may have noticed a sorry sight in the background of some shots from the backyard of our Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood home.
The little blue spruce we transplanted after a winter in a pot on our side porch has not made it, I’m afraid. And quite sure.
You can see how dead it is in the photo above.
Yes, that’s the one that we decorated as our outdoor Christmas tree last December.
Epic fail, I must admit.
You win some, you lose some.
Out came the shovel. It now sits in my yard waste recycling pile, hopefully to be turned to mulch by the city of Syracuse.
Thanks for the happy memories this past winter, little tree.
Here’s the link to my post about putting the spruce into the ground this spring.
Have you had success after leaving an evergreen in a pot for a winter? Any advice for what we did wrong? Should we give up or try again next year with a side porch outdoor Christmas tree?
Mark Bialczak 
This is exactly what happened to us when we planted a Christmas tree out in the garden. Too many days/weeks in a pot and the roots don’t know what to do.
LikeLike
Too bad about the little spruce, Mark! I am not so great of a gardener, but I would think that it were possible to do exactly like you did, Mark! As far as other things in gardens, I like to get a pot of flowers and put it on my dining room table for a week, then put it on the window sill in my apt. I love tulips, hyacinths or daffodils in the Spring, a bronze or maroon colored pot of Mums in the Fall, but so far, have not purchased my Summer pot. I guess I was afraid it would die while on vacation. I put all of my plants in my tub, so they stay in the dark, with a nice amount of water in each pot. My vines and plants all survived my 9 day trip! Smiles, Robin
LikeLike
That was a great move to keep your plants alive during your long trip, Robin. Very smart, my friend.
LikeLike
The effort was made. You planted it, treated it with respect, but the little guy didn’t make it. It’s okay.
LikeLike
Remember when you wanted to put a little army helmet on the little guy? I wish we would have done it! Given him a fun moment at least.
LikeLike
I think he heard the gesture through the wind. I’m sure he chuckled a little. 🙂
LikeLike
Poor tree. I feel your pain.
The one tree that never survives for me is the Dogwood. I’ve had 4, and each has died. I am destined to be Dogwood-less for eternity.
LikeLike
Another traumatic backyard experience! My condolences on the spruce, the gofer not so much. 🎄
LikeLike
And you knew how to strike a key to get a little evergreen wheteveracon on my blog. Mrs. B, you are a thrilling and mysterious friend.
LikeLike
I hope that is a good thing – mysterious and thrilling. 🙂 Because I think you are the second nicest Mr. B around! 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, that is very good, Mrs. B, and, wow, that’s the very best compliment from you I’d ever expect to hear! ;-o
LikeLike
Oh, that’s very sad. 😦 Will you be replacing her now or do you have to wait until winter?
LikeLike
I know nothing of sprucing a spruce, Chum. I say she lived a long while…
LikeLike
No sprucing said spruce. Her goose is cooked, Aud.
LikeLike
LOL…well done, Chum. Kinda chewy.
LikeLike
Oh shoot! I thought this would be a story about the “little spruce that could” but sadly it’s not. Very good effort in keeping it alive after Christmas season!
LikeLike
Next year, I will come better prepared, CBXB!
LikeLike
awww good-bye little spruce. Blue Spruce is one of my fave trees. 🙂
LikeLike
It was a rocking little porch Christmas tree with the ornaments my wonderful daughter Elisabeth gave us hanging on it, Diana, so it was quite honorable and happy, both!
LikeLike
We had a live Christmas tree one year that got huge when replanted it in our front yard. Different winter climates and all, so I don’t know what we did differently otherwise.
LikeLike
I think Karen and I waited too long this spring, Jeanette, and our little blue spruce was sort of on its way to D-E-A-D when I put it in the ground. I learned something from the experience, though.
LikeLike
Poor little tree.
😦
LikeLike
I’m happy that it was a great little porch Christmas tree with ornaments and all, Jolene. Every day I smiled at it, and it got to experience Syracuse snow that blew onto the covered steps. 🙂
LikeLike
Awwww, poor baby tree. It lived a good life. Celebrating and being cheered. Now it will hopefully surround and be part of another little tree in another little garden.
LikeLike
That thought makes me quite happy, Colleen. The circle of life. I see a lion off in the distance. Wait, this is Syracuse! I’m frightened!!
LikeLike
Ha! That “lion” will probably be one of those stray cats a spraying that horrid outdoor smell. Oh well, that’s what rain is for. To wash it away.
LikeLike
Oh, the outdoor cat smell. Thanks for reminding me. That look is my pinched face mug. … ;-o
LikeLike
I know that look.
LikeLike
aww, it served you well and i remember it fondly. i consider it a success for lasting so long, and i know it’s hard when a garden friend leaves you. i’ve never had much luck with a potted evergreen going the distance, though i’ve always hoped they will, they are in the ‘evergreen’ family after all……but then i am ‘hit and miss/trial and error’ style of gardener. )
LikeLike
I had to pull the shovel on our little everbrown, Beth. Sigh. But oh what a wonderful winter and spring on the porch, like you said! They must be hard to get going in the ground for some reason if you have no luck either.
LikeLike
I’m sorry about your little spruce. I have no green thumb to speak of – in fact, most plants look at me and shudder, so I envy the talents of you and Karen..
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have a pretty good success rate, Mimi. We had a cherry tree that didn’t take, and that was a disappointment, but the flowering crabapple we put in its place is prospering, so that made up for it … Hey, you live in a spot where things grow. You can do it!
LikeLike
Honestly Mark – I can’t. It’s a joke in our family that one must never give a living plant to me unless you no longer want it to survive. 😉
LikeLike
Stop giving them the stink eye, Mimi! 🙂
LikeLike