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Before we moved to our Graham property I had little interest in local plants - I saw myself as a gardener.

In 2021 I purchased 40 native plants from Pierce Conservation district. There were bare-root plants - that is, they are dormant plants that have no soil on their roots

I didn't know how difficult it is to nurture bare-root plants, but I gave it a try. There is a process that I studied and followed to the best of my understanding. Two years later, around 20 of these had survived.

For no known reason, I had an interest in elderberries - none of five bare-root black elderberries I transplanted survived until the next season. Eventually I had reduced interest in bare root plants, but I have nurtured those survivors with careful weeding and regular watering.

One hazard of working with transplants is that deer and elk see them in general as tasty snacks.

On this property in Graham I found a number of volunteer, native plants that piqued my interest. Local, volunteer plants already growing.

The first I noticed were elderberries, the red variety. First, I saw one right on the middle fence line, noticing over time that its height and leaves varied (nibbling by the deer and elk)). I decided to transplant it to where I could protect it.

Another in the fence line, that was a favorite of deer and elk, is the Rowan tree. I read about this tree, which has unusual leaves, similar to mountain ash. The rowan is deeply embedded in Celtic and Norse mythology, where it is revered as a tree of protection against evil spirits, witches, and enchantment.

Historically, rowan wood was used for wands, tool handles, and charms, and sprigs were hung in homes to ward off bad luck, even as protection from spirits witches and enchantment.

Ecologically, berries from rowan tree rovide essential food for birds and habitats for pollinators.

It seemed like a tree I could use here.

Both the elderberry and the Rowan tree straddled the wire fence, which made it impossible to protect them from foraging ungulates, so I resolved to transplant them and move them to a protected area.