You are never in a million years going to believe this story, I can hardly believe it myself.
The year before last I bought two yellow Honey Locust trees. I planted both of them up in the vicinity of the apiary, one adjacent to it and one behind it. One of my Nephews in his playing up there ran straight into the tree right behind the apiary and knocked it over, broke right just above ground level. Goodbye the one Yellow Locust, he felt terrible, I felt terrible. But I consoled him and told him that things happen in life, it wasn't his fault and so don't worry.
Last spring I was at a wonderful garden sale at our local nursery. I bought a beautiful and rather large (probably about 12 feet tall) Purple Robe Robinia, Black Locust tree. I spent a great deal of time preparing the hole to plant this tree in, deep, full of nice compost, aged manure and dirt all mixed in. Took me about an hour, the hole was huge that I had to dig. I planted the tree within, it looked great.
Yesterday I was placing pollen patties on top of the colonies to warm the pollen in the sunshine on the metal roofs. Just as I was closing the apiary gate, I heard a crack and whipped my head around to see what on earth it was. Holy smoking smokers batman!!! Lo and behold, if my Daughter's pittbull, Titan, my age old helper around my property, hadn't run straight into this tree, knocking and breaking it off right at the base of it. Oh dear.......
No hope for the tree, it is done, gone, broken all up. The second tree in the near same spot. I will try again. Third time lucky right? This time I am going to make an incredible landmark for anything that wants to run into this tree. The tree was snapped off about 3 inches above ground level. I know the amazing ability of Mother Nature to sometimes consider a hard pruning to create a plant that has extremely great roots, but I am unsure if this pertains to trees. Regardless, I have cut this tree off sharply now, and I will see if some new sprouts appear above the cut, I think it is too short, but then, one never knows and time will tell that tale. I had purchased this lovely tree at a wonderful deal, 50% off, it was the end of the season clearance, great deals were happening. I am not deterred, I will be on the search for another Purple Robe Robinia, I have coveted this species of tree for a long time, oops, maybe that is what the issue is here, coveting something, I should know better....hee, hee.....
I need to ask, what the blazes is the likelihood of something/someone running into this tree. It is at least 20 feet from anything else, what are the odds? I am still thunderstruck thinking of this and how on earth, two times in a row something has broken down my attempt to make a beautiful and fragrant tree for me and the bees. Oh well, gonna try again, I am not one to be deterred, if anything this makes me have an even bigger passion to grow a tree in this spot. The next time nothing, and I mean nothing, will get even close to my young sapling. Have a wonderful and beautiful day, I am dreaming of the fragrance of the Purple Robe that may never be. Cindi