FLUXUS - BY ROD SUMMERS IT IS SPRINGTIME BEN - 2005-02-08

I have a small 'american cherry' tree growing in a pot on our terrace, it has been in this pot for more than twenty years. It's stunted but it is not a bonsai, I prefer to liken it to a tree that grows in a crevice on a rock face. I am very fond of this tree and I find it very beautiful in form. As soon as the better weather started last week and the leaf buds on the tree began to swell and burst I was concerned to see the new green leaves were infested with blackfly, a louse that sucks sap thus weakening the plant. I considered washing them off with a water jet but this could also do damage to the soft new growth and anyway I was too busy with a lot of other jobs and tasks so I let it be. This morning as I stood by the kitchen door making the first tea of the day I saw a Bluetit hopping about the tree picking off the sap-suckers. When I returned from the garden this afternoon I had a close look at the tree and there was hardly a leaf-louse left to be seen! The only insects I could see were two 'ladybirds' who will probably clear up any remnant bugs the Bluetit has missed... well at least they were obviously celebrating something.
it's Springtime Ben!

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