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Last year I went down the river on a raft, this year I am as determined to climb the rhody tree on our plots, it is as big as an oak and I aim to get into it...somehow.

Any ideas.

It only flowers for a couple of weeks so there is just a small window.

I am pretty heavy and although the branches  are very thick I am a bit nervous about them breaking.

Ideas for footwear etc welcomed, I haven't climbed a tree since I was a kid and I was fit then anyway.

Got to have a goal each year....

XX Jeannine

For when you are in hospital. Rhodies are very brittle, they won't give you any warning when they snap.

Ere ya go sweetness,job done,and saves all the aches and pains...... :D

Gazza

 ;D..you lot are not helpful at all.. ::)

I don't know about climbing a rhodie..but big oak would sound more safer.
I do climb on my big apple tree and find flexible rubber sole pumps/lace-up shoes best for the job..anything rigid wont grip and its bit like being on high heels...or if you have well 'seasoned' skin on bottom of your feet..bare feet are good for climbing on smooth bark.

Quote from: goodlife on April 17, 2012, 18:26:11
;D..you lot are not helpful at all.. ::)

I though I was very helpful, or should I have just said forget it. I don't really want to be involved in helping an old biddy who on her own admittance ain't exactly dainty to have a bad accident.  Jeaninne might come across as 'sensible' person on this forum but she might be as nutty as a fruit cake for all we know. ;)

I can just read the headlines. 'internet pranksters encourage confused old lady to climb a tree'

she might be as nutty as a fruit cake for all we know.   ;D..I'm waiting to see what Jeannine's response will be for that.. ;D ;D

Jeannine takes Ace,s fruit and nut comment to heart.......... ::)

Ace, you are absolutely right, I am as nutty as a fruit cake and very eccentric to boot, it is the artist temprement in me and I am very proud of it!! I certainly aint dainty and I guess I am an old biddy too but... I am definately not confused. I spend a lot of time thinking up me pranks, plan them , fine tune them and if  I fall on my A  R  S  E  so be it,as long as I get up the tree first.. ;D


I like. Internet pals  encourage and support nutty old broad to climb tree. You included!!

Happy Days

XX Jeannine

LSHABOWCO  ;D

Me.

Put it this way - I never buy much fishing tackle - I usually benefit from other peoples inability or unwillingness to climb and shimmy along shoogley branches hanging over the loch to rescue floats, weights, spinners etc.

Once rescued a tawney owl like that too. Poor we mite had tangled his feet up in fishing line and was hanging upside down, over the loch, 30ft up an big old beech. It was really quite nerve racking because I needed both hands to untangle it and hold it to stop it falling in the water when I freed it, all the time terrified that it was going to sink its beak into me and we'd both be in the drink. I had no foothold, just a leg wedged in between two smaller branches and flat on my belly across one of the big main branches. I managed to free him and carefully put him up my t-shirt somehow, then attempted to climb 30ft back down with only one hand. We both touched mother earth safely and the owl was released from a sanctuary a few weeks later. It was wonderful to see it fly off because it had put up no fight during it's whole ordeal and had just sat there on the ground when we'd got down.  So now I see it as both my environmental duty as well as a kindness to my pocket to remove tackle from trees.

That said, I'd be looking at high rhoddies as a bit iffy. The're really bendy and you have to spread your weight in them. It's less of a "handhold - foothold - pull yourself up" kind of climbing as a "wobble your way to the top and pray nothing breaks or throws you off" style. Still, you shouldn't break anything if you fall. We used to have a game we played now and again as kids - climb to the top of a rhoddy and launch yourself down through the branches. They totally break your fall. Just have a big box of plasters ready and pray you don't get a branch lodged in your eye. Like i say, "iffy".

My suggestion would be to get a stout tree branch and turn it upside down, if you will, so that you're holding it by the thinner end. Trim all branches except the last one at the thicker end, but cut that back to about 6"-12". You will now have a long, sturdy hook. Use it to pull the branches down to you and pick your flowers, either from the ground, or from lower in the bush than you would otherwise have to be. A smaller version gets tucked into my belt when I'm tackle harvesting to give me extra reach and it's always worked for me for bubble floats, why not flowers?

Oops turned into a bit of an essay this one.

Don't think I would chance climbing a tree. when I was much younger I used to climb a tree in the field by my home I used to sit and read my book up there.
had to be helped down the last time though. so if you climb a tree be sure you can climb down again.
   Lol June

 I just gotta do it.. it is a wonderful sight in full bloom and there is a natural gap I can pose in..it is very big , I won't be able to get very far up it due to the placement of the branches bur so far is good enough.

Ace.. I couldn't figure out your  last message.

XX Jeannine

Quote from: Jeannine on May 03, 2012, 19:03:16


Ace.. I couldn't figure out your  last message.

XX Jeannine

Just my way of saying lol, but somebody will google it and have the same trouble as me :-[

Quotenatural gap I can pose in

Ah! You're not after picking  the flowers, you just want to be among the flowers. Good luck Jeannine.

1. Agree - up is much easier than down!!

2. Shall I ask No1 G/daughter - she's a tree surgeon!!

= Tim

PS - you can't see her safety boots - & the chainsaw is only just visible!

Quote from: tim on May 04, 2012, 12:01:46
1. Agree - up is much easier than down!!

2. Shall I ask No1 G/daughter - she's a tree surgeon!!

= Tim

PS - you can't see her safety boots - & the chainsaw is only just visible!

Looks just the outfit for clambering up (and down) trees. Not so sure it'd suit me though  :D :D

Wow, Tim, I see I will have to dress for the occasion.

Ace, a kind soul e mailled me with the answer to your abbreviations. I think it might be me  doing that but I may not be laughing...  Granny Diapers anyone!!

It is forming buds so hope it dpoesn't bloom in the rain.

Watch this space!!

XX Jeannine

tou can renovate a rhodendron just cut it right back to the height you want or a basic frame but cut some branches to the gound. it will sulk for a while but grown again.
Nora

J, enough expert peeps have said to not try it with a rhodi....NOT not climb a tree, mind, just not a rhodi and have given their expert reasons why...

So..............


???

Lish X

It has to be that tree Lishka, it is as big as an oak and the trunk is fatter than me,it looks so inviting when it is in full bloom and  I need a new avatar so up i go!!

XX Jeannine