To Mulch . . . or Too Mulch

          To mulch or . . . when to mulch, that is the question.

          At least for today.

          Last time I talked about the insidious fluttering Maple seeds.

          Well, they've come and gone, but I held off on mulching the bulk of our trees for other reasons.  Make that one big reason, Katie's wedding.

          Katie, our eldest granddaughter is getting married.  (Her wedding invitation reads: "Eat, Drink and be Married."

          She and her betrothed, Josh Mount, will be wed in the pasture near the peak of Indiantree Hill.  The spot is mere yards from the (Delaware) Indian Mound which is about a quarter mile from the (Delaware) Indian Tree at the farm's entrance.

          If the weather's damp or blustery, the ceremony will take place in the barn, built by Katie's great, great, great grandfather.  Weather notwithstanding, we'll hold the wedding reception in the barn, pretty much in the style of our Amish neighbors except for the "deejay," the dancing and the lack of hay in the haymow.

          No matter what, guests will be roaming, lounging and poking around the grounds.  Since the "grounds" include more than 60 hardwood trees, dozens of shrubs and a variety of flower beds, we need a significant amount of mulch.  The first order totaled about $300 with more to come.

          The dark (not dyed) shredded bark adds neatness and depth to the two-acre lawn (besides, it cuts my trimming time by about 85%) and gives the flora something to feed on as it decomposes.

          But . . . it quickly loses its fresh look as it becomes contaminated by leaves, grass clippings and bird droppings.  Besides, heavy rains wash it away and windstorms seem to suck the feathery stuff into oblivion.

          So, we wait for that critical "window," when there's enough time to distribute the mulch but not enough time for it to be lost to the forces of nature or lawnmower.