The Phantom Planter

 It was 5 years ago today that I started The Phantom Planter! And this was my first ever pic too!  I was already planting trees for around 4/5 years before this as a guerrilla gardener as some would call it and for a charity I had but it was 5 years ago today that I came up with The Phantom Planter!  Came along way since then and it would be very interesting to know how many trees have been planted as a result of me challenging you to phantom plant a tree!  Thanks for all the support guys.  Rise of the paramili-trees - UTPP up the phantom planters!

 Yesterday we planted the first memorial tree at our new community orchard. My Big Pal came over from Scotland with his mum to plant the first tree in our orchard in memory of his dad who just passed away last year. They brought his ashes over with them on the boat and added them in with the tree. I think this is such a special thing to do, over time the ashes of my big pals dad will become part of the tree and one day him and his family can eat apples from it. It was a pretty special moment to mark the first tree in our new heritage Irish community/memorial orchard. I think we will name this new orchard  "Lisnabreeny Community Orchard" as its in a place called Lisnabreeny just outside South Belfast and Lisnabreeny means in Irish "Fort of the Fairy dwelling". Whats pretty cool about this also is one of the guys who came to help out yesterday, he makes fairy houses and leaves them around the forests as a hobby of his, and when I told him what Lisnabreeny translates t...

 This Christmas why not buy your kids a whomping willow tree if they're into Harry Potter! A few years ago thats what I did, bought my 2 sidekicks a weeping willow tree for Xmas, one of them said she cant wait when it gets bigger so she can sit under it and read her book.. So many children's movies are related to trees, apple trees in Wizard of Oz, Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas, Groot from Guardian of the Galaxy and i'm sure there is many more. I think its an amazing Christmas gift idea, a tree will be in your kids life forever, it will be something they'll never forget! Its also a great idea buying a tree for anyone this Christmas, get them a phantom planter pack - mask, spade and tree! Planting a tree on Christmas day is such a special thing to do to mark the occasion also, an offering back to mother nature for all she provides us with. Every Christmas now for the past many years its been a ritual of mine to plant trees on Christmas day.  I think that was the ori...

 Theres some quantum entanglement going on with these 2 trees I'm planting in memory of 2 of my best mates parent. This apple tree that I've named "Phantom Special" was cuttings from an apple tree that Judiths son had told me about while out walking with his mum one day. They noticed how many big red apples were on it and said to me that I must go and see it. I had went for many years after they told to pick apples from the tree with my son and other kids. Then a couple of years ago they started building houses around the tree and I had talked to the contractors telling them to please leave this tree alone and can they let it stay.  I kept going back to keep an eye on it then one day it had been ripped out by the roots and it was gone!!! Felt so sad that day!! I managed to find a few broken branches and did a post on here to see if anyone could save the variety of apple tree with these few broken branches as they were so nice and tasty. Des Scholes from Nairn in Scotl...

We start to plant up the new community orchard this week.  My Big Glaswegian Pal is coming over to plant the first tree in memory of his dad who just passed away last year.  They are bringing some of his fathers ashes to plant in with the tree.  There is still time to help support this project. Please click on the link below.  https://gofund.me/53bbdf23 It's very different planting memorial trees than just randomly planting trees here and there out of your own pocket.  I'm not going to lie, the whole project has been stressing me a bit. Guess that's normal though when taking on new ventures. I hate the thought of someone's memorial tree dying. If any do though it'll be replaced.  And for everyone who has been sponsoring a memorial tree please keep checking my posts for updates. I've a lot going on and hope I haven't forgot anyone. This has been a massive learning curves for me about how to proceed with further community orchards. One thing that does help wi...

 "Cant get a gallop up".... My Delboy dad always said this when he lost his motivation at times for his wheeling and dealing! I haven't been able to get a gallop up either,  hence why I haven't posted in a few days. I always think the dark days of winter can have an effect on people.  All nature shuts down, the trees leaves have fallen as they enter the dormancy period going into a deep sleep until spring.  Many mammals go into hibernation and lots of birds head South to follow the Sun. Us humans though, what are we doing? Still expected to do the same thing as the rest of the year!  We have so much to learn from nature. "This too shall pass" and I'll get my gallop back again soon. I need too, as we are starting to plant up the new orchard this week. 300 native Irish apple trees ready to go in the ground!