Ok these buds are starting to swell. I think it should be soon that I might see the green. I will get some pics if they do. It has been interesting learning this.

Well the graft on the right is growing and the left is slower but showing green. How long do I let them both develop? Should I make sure they survive the hot summer before taking one out? Thanks for the help. Oh and off topic has anyone lost an egyptian goose? We seem to have found a one locally and its a strange sight. See the photos below.

New graft: http://home.comcast.net/~gkowen/graft2.jpg

New growth: http://home.comcast.net/~gkowen/graft3..jpg

Goose: http://home.comcast.net/~gkowen/egyptgoose.jpg

Greg, first off, nice photo of the goose! A "fading Birder" myself, I just had to look that beautiful bird up ... here's what I found: http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-gu ... -goose.htm

The Grafts: Let Them Alone. I've got a tree-full of cleft and 'splice' grafts (about 7 individual limbs) on a 'Peach Plum' I'm trying to develop pollination limbs (of 'Petite,' & 'Green Gauge'). I look them over about twice a week, watching for 'nibbling.' If I find their leaves (always lagging slightly behind the base tree, thus more tender) are being nibbled, I'll smear some Tanglefoot around the base of the scion, or the stubbed off limb -- having looked for and smashed the offending earwig / aphid / caterpillar...

I'm sitting here smiling . . .. remembering myself all those years ago --- trying to think of anything and everything I could 'do' to speed the process, including 'breathing on them' -- assuming carbon dioxide was a 'growth enhancer.' Here are a couple of my concerns: that nibbling; a bird landing on them and breaking off the 'shoots;' children 'discovering' them; last and least -- hot weather, or 'sun damage.' For the most part, I've just taken my chances. It's very rare a bird will land and damage them; now that yours are so short, they'll probably not be viewed as landing twigs -- which has been the only problem I've had with birds. As far as heat, or sun, they should be able to take it, and thrive!

Don't even think about which one you'll 'remove.' You want them to grow as big, long and strong as possible this season. Tip prune the shoots and tie them at a branch angle with string this Winter; and let them race to health again next season. Eventually, one will become dominant, but that doesn't mean the other will (as the British say) become redundant. You want them to heal over that stub ASAP --- but there's little you can do to speed the process... And in this case, that may be your most difficult task! I can relate --- so follow that Goose!

More buds are starting to show growth. It sure seems slow. But I have a plum graft that seems to be looking nice.

http://home.comcast.net/~gkowen/graft6.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~gkowen/graft5.jpg

It has been interesting learning. Thanks for all the interest and information.

Greg

Here is another update. The grafts are about 14 inches tall now. I hope the pic has enough contrast to show up well.

http://home.comcast.net/~gkowen/graft10.jpg

There be Trees! Nice work, they're looking strong - perfect! Now let them alone, both of them ... Let them beef-up as much a possible before giving them a gentle bending angle by tying them over some THIS WINTER when dormant. I've had great success leaving both scions on a limb such as yours; not only does it heal the stub faster, they'll both became plenty strong and quite capable of supporting their future loads. In fact, I use most of mine to climb or stand on while pruning --- no problems.

They sure do look nice, and look to be getting plenty of sunlight. That's a problem for some top-worked trees - if the graft gets shaded out by surrounding foliage, it won't thrive; but these look perfect

Thanks again for the ongoing photos --- now how's that Goose!?