Day 14: In Which We Get Bamboo

We got a late start from the office to Rufus' place. It was dark by the time we arrived and I'm sure we made quite the sight, walking down a dark street with flashlights and shovels.

Rufus wasn't home yet when we got there, so we surveyed the bamboo and decided where to start digging. I don't think either of us realized how tall the stuff would be. It was easily twenty-five feet tall. We picked a few good looking specimens, lopped off the tops, and started digging.

Anyone ever tried to dig up bamboo before? It's a bitch. I think we'd intended to get 4 stalks, but we ended up with only two and a giant hunk of root. A big thanks to Rufus for the bamboo.

The next problem was what to do with our newly acquired bamboo. When we got to the office the next morning it was clear that the plants would die if we didn't get them into soil soon. We went to the mail room and got a big cardboard box and a thick plastic bag, to line the box. We filled our creation with leftover potting soil from our previous planting and added the bamboo. It's going to have to live like this for a few days while the real planting box is completed.

The long shot:


The tight shot:


In the background you can see the corner of the new planter - not yet ready for prime time.

Day 1: In Which We Meet Rufus

Today was a big day. It was the first on our quest to create a wall of living bamboo. We have dubbed this quest, Project Bambusa!

We met the operative for lunch. He goes by the name of Rufus. He claims that bamboo grows in his backyard and that he'd be willing to let us come and dig some up. We settle on next week. Rufus, by the way, is a Little Dude.

Back at the office, more questions arise regarding how we will house the bamboo once it comes into our possession. We settle on building a 24x24 box, complete with drainage. Rufus told us that we should expect new shoots to pop up in early spring, so we're thinking that this box will be big enough.