Yesterday Bob posted some advice to a friend that Stan happened to see on line. Here's the exchange:
Bob writes to someone seeking plant advice:
About that "tree foam" on your Alaskan weeping cedar... A bacteria species has entered through an injury caused by tools, or freezing split, or... and is working within creating gases that expand the interior pressure up to ten times its natural internal pressure, pushing sap and aerated sap out through pore areas.. It's called slime flux and will not cause any real damage to the tree itself...but the attracted insects to the alcoholic production may...If it begins to have a foul odor, it can be sprayed with a diluted bleach solution. Also, pull away from the base of the tree material that may harbor larvae and insects that are attracted to the sweet (to them) mixture. (Really, it tastes like chicken)(ha). Also, compacted soil MAY be causal....loosen with a claw in root areas of the tree. (It will not hurt growth of ground vegetation if you occasionally hose it away, though it may kill turf.)
Just for the heck of it, Stan interrupted with this comment:Bob, very impressed. I had no idea. Now. Put that into rhyming couplets.
He immediately took the challenge. Now here's a talent. Who knew?A friend just called me
Straight from her home.
Wondered about the
O'erflowing foam.
Running on down
Her beautiful tree.
I said "Give me a sec,
Just leave it to me.
It's slime flux my friend
Got lotsa pressure.
Aerated sap stuff
Beyond liquid measure.
Don't worry a bit
It won' do no damage.
Now let me get back to
My ham and cheese sammadge.
