Battle On

I grew up with 10 brothers, no sisters.

Life was good.

Granted, I didn't have very many willing participants for playing "house."

Instead, we played games like "Battle On."

We would roll socks into balls and take up positions in our upstairs hallway and bedrooms.

The object was, of course, to hit everyone else with your balls, while simultaneously dodging their missiles.

 

The rules were simple:

1. You had to wait until everyone was ready to begin.

2. To signal that you were ready, you would say, "Battle on," loud enough for everyone to hear. 

3. Once the mayhem began, if you got hit 3 times, you were out.

 

* * * * * *

 

When we moved to this home 2 1/2 years ago, we noticed 3 aspens growing on the back slope.

We didn't think much about them.

If anything, we had positive thoughts.

 

[This was taken in April, last year.]

 

Small, round leaves that twist in the wind.

White, smooth bark.

They are pretty trees.

 

However.

 

You plant one aspen and you will end up with a grove.

They send up suckers from their roots, which can and will grow into full-size trees.

Aspen, thy name is legion!

 

Up until this point, our aspen control policy was of the "live and let live" variety.

Oh, we had our excuses reasons: we were busy building garden terraces and a shed; I had a spring baby last year; and what was more, the saplings were small and seemed far apart.

 

My first hint that it was time for more aggresive action was last fall when I was clearing out the garden beds. I pulled long roots out of every bed.

 

This spring I have noticed an abundance of aspen suckers.

Not just one or two.

Not just high up on the slope where I don't care about them, or notice them.

 

Many. A multitude.

Surrounding my apple trees, popping up next to my berry bushes, creeping down toward my shade bed.

 

 Look closely! There are 15-20 suckers in this picture.

They look like skinny brown sticks standing upright. 

The photo quality is not great.

You may have to take my word for it.

 

Many of these have been cut down before, and are growing back from stumps of old shoots.

Keep in mind that this is one small section of the slope.

 

Here's another angle.

Aspens, aspens, everywhere!

 

Enough is enough!

No longer will our policy be tolerance and forgiveness.

Aspen suckers will be cut down on sight.

Again and again, if need be.

 

I'm saying it loud enough for everyone to hear.

 

"Battle on."