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.