Update!

The Children's Garden has three new trees installed as of this morning! Whoo-pah! I added a weeping cherry to the list yesterday and dug it's hole this morning before the trees arrived. Installing the trees was a bit like watching the Three Stooges plant a tree. (If they ever did that.?) There was me, Jeff P. and Jeff N. (or the other Jeff, as he is more typically monikered.)

First, there was trying to decide how to get the trees into the garden. Normally, one would think this does not need too much consideration, however the garden currently has some special circumstances that needed evaluation.
The circumstances: The garden has no easy front access or side access, because of all the new grass coming up. Last night it rained (over half an inch), so all the soil was very soft this morning--more trouble. The other two sides have raised beds (4-8" high)--all ready for planting, but very wet. The columnar oak was the largest of the three trees. It's approximately twelve feet tall and has to weigh at least 200 pounds!! It has a trunk diameter of about 4 inches--no small feet!
The decision: The final answer was that some tender grass would be trod upon, as carefully as we could manage by crossing at the front and sticking to the winding path. (This path is sometimes affectionately and frustratingly nicknamed "The Drunkard's Path"--and for good reasons.)

Second, there was the hysterical process of unloading the trees from the truck bed into assorted carts or wheelbarrows. I can honestly say that getting the oak down and out to the garden was film worthy, and had us all hunched over laughing at various moments on the journey. I nearly went head over teakettles once with the honey locust tree and wheelbarrow, as it overturned with a gust of wind. (Yes, it was pretty breezy this morning.) Let that be a lesson to one and all...always lay your tree on its side to transport--especially when said tree is nearly ten feet tall! By the time we got to tree number three, the weeping cherry, the thrill had gone with the ease of this minute tree. It was only six feet tall. I took that one solo. No, challenge at all!

Third was the adventure of planting. Tools needed: one hacksaw, wire cutters, pliers, screwdriver, pocket knife and a claw-like grasp of fingers. The oak as you can imagine took all three of us to unload, unwrap, cut string , cut wire, cut bound up roots, and then not so gracefully roll into the hole. I'm certain I looked very graceful grasping the tree, walking backwards stooped over, rolling it towards me and then straddling the hole so as not to get trapped under it's two hundred pound weight. Right.
The honey locust was horridly root bound. We planted it despite it's trauma and with tender loving care, because it is guaranteed for one year. But as protection for us, pictures were taken in case they might be needed later.
The weeping cherry was a picture of perfection to plant, and was so small I was able to do it on my own.

So, after all the struggling, laughing and laboring it was indeed a good day for the Children's Garden!