Ya, been the winter slow-down with no storm work. Last winter had a Dec wind storm, Jan wind storm, Feb Snowmaggedon. Year to date precipitation for Olympia 13.9", 50" is normal for the entire year.
Next week should be turning the corner, full id work and heading into the next week. Fruit tree pruning starts up more this month, as freezing weather has mostly passed. Fruit trees lead to canopy raises and such.
A Homeowner's Association whose work I get, has some work along roads (6 trees with hangers, some canopy raising for road/ sidewalks, and some smaller ornamentals needing some early structural pruning. They need to finish up their budget!
I called a customer who I know has a dead tree next to his house, visible from the road. He was happy to hear from me. He has two dead ones next to his house, and other stuff we'd previously discussed.
He's a good friend of Paul Stamets (the Mushroom Man
www.fungi.com), college friends from here in Oly at the Evergreen State College, from way back in the day, who lives up the way from here.
My customer has a 50 acre piece next to Paul Stamets' property. He says there is a plan in the future of building a tree house or fire-tower with 360* views that Paul would also use for seminars, etc. Maybe in March we'll go look around up at that property when Paul is available, he suggested.
I've wanted to meet and connect with Paul for a while.
A couple times I've found Agaricon conks on big doug-firs. Paul is collecting/ preserving/ researching various genetic samples of Agaricon, and others. Its a heartwood rotter in some old-growth trees.
Just saw Fantastic Fungi
shown locally, featuring Paul Stamets.
The presentation went well today, about 20 attendees.
I think may put on a fruit tree pruning demo locally, next month, at a longtime customer's house, something we had discussed before.