Tree Management

Last week I was telling people that we have at least three trees to cut down but that it was ok because we had at least 27 trees.  I counted a couple of days ago; 56 trees and one of those was a group of 8 closely packed smaller trees.  That is not counting lilacs, bushes, hedges, or trees under 2 feet tall.

Today my Dad came over and cut down some of the trees.  The big tree next to the garage was the first to go.  Then we attacked the conglomerate near the front of the house and after that was the one I discovered while thinning out the forsythia.  "Ooooooh, that's why the forsythia could get that tall!"

I have a much clearer view of the back of the yard and the vegetable garden will get more sunlight.  At the corner of the garage is a drop off so we'll plant something there; probably rhubarb.

This is the view of the carnage from within the side yard.  At the bottom is a large brush pile which really covers most that section of the yard.  I'm debating the thin straight tree toward the left of the picture.  I might take that out too.

Here is what the right side of the front looks like now.  The cherry tree will have a lot more light next spring so it should look awesome.

We're probably going to have to hire someone to take care of the tree at the front of the house.

Spring 2011

The first spring in our new house; the spring of discovery.  Here is the album of the current state of the yard:

https://picasaweb.google.com/112027436046345326346/Spring2011?feat=directlink

This is what we've discovered so far:

The bushes in the front bloom white.
The scrub brush along the creek is overgrown forsythia.
There is varigated hosta near the creek.
The tree just outside of the dining room is a massive ornamental cherry.
The flowering tree next to the neighbor's bridge is a 100 year old crab apple that was struck by lightening.
There is a third lilac half way out the back yard.
There is a rose bush off the near end of the line of pines.
We have peonies, roses, and ferns next to the garage.
There are forget-me-nots behind the garage.
The backyard has a ton of wild strawberry plants.
There are random tulips beside the patio.

I have made a few changes but nothing drastic yet:

We dug out and planted a vegetable garden; garlic, onions, carrots, broccoli, green peppers, and watermelon so far.
I'm half way done with a raised herb garden.
Two trees are scheduled to be removed next weekend.
I have started cutting back the forsythia; it is where I want it, just too overgrown.
We planted to berry canes that in coming years we will train over the rubble pile.

Plans for the future, not necessarily this year, include the following:

Rhubarb bed at the the top of the steep part of the slope.
Low fences and mulch around the flower beds.
Garden benches in the back.
More lillies of the valley and other shade tolerant plants in the back.
Day lillies from the neighbor for the back property line.

New Gardens

Taking the advice of a book I bought while I was suddenly away for a week, I removed the sod and dug up the vegetable garden without the use of power tools.  It's smaller that I think I'd really like but it might be as much as I can manage.

I've started on the herb garden using a 20' flexible border staked in a circle.  I was just tossign the sod in a pile as I removed it then it suddenly ocurred to me that if I piled it around the outside fo the border, it would look more natural.

Next up is getting a lot of screened dirt for both gardens.

Existing Gardens

I have found a couple of little perennial gardens on the property.

There is one along the side of the patio turning the corner at the house and continuing just past the air conditioner.    One tulip bloomed and two others were trampled.  There is a big hosta that should be divided, some variety of  Pulmonaria, and one perennial that we had at the apartment that sort of looks like a cactus when it starts to come up.

There is a hosta garden in front of the trees by the creek.  It's kind of random and I'm not sure I like it.  I may relocate those plants to the back section of the yard in the more shaded areas.

Along the side of the garage I have found what I think are peonies, hosta, and some that sort of looks like a miniature rose bush.