Spring Into Action

 Each Spring we need to replace and replenish all the trees and shrubs lost to the harsh winter weather.  Our landscaper Nick Belgrado meets with us to evaluate the damages and come up with a plan for the Spring plantings.  I am a firm believer in  re-forestation.  Take one out.....put one (or more) in. 

After we consult with Nick and agree on a plan and plantings the next most important step is contacting the utilities to have the grounds marked so that no vital line is damaged during digging.  That done, and flags in place the work begins

 Caliper Farms a local nursery that supplies ALL our landscaping needs. The first 20 cu yds of mulch are delivered.

 Nick and Herman digging out the new beds.

 The boxwood shrubs are placed and planted, and complement the ones on the opposite side of the brick pathway.

The new Rock garden with its decorative grasses is taking shape, and will eventually mirror the existing one.

 

The older flower beds which contain hydrangea, spirea, holly, day lilies and beautiful mossy rocks are cleaned and mulched and waiting for the sun......

 and works begins on the NEW flower beds along the side and back of the backyard.  While the 6 foot fence has so far deterred the deer, it needs some 'softening up'. 

 There are a mixture of plantings in the new beds.  We have hydrangea, butterfly bushes and ornamental grasses.  Nick has to choose the plants carefully since that corner of the back yard has poor drainage, and tends to 'pond'.  Problem solved with the placement of a 'dry creek bed'.  These Boxwoods are a few years old, and were planted to balance and add some privacy  to the area surrounding the pool

 This VERY OLD Sugar Maple loses big branches each winter.  Here Nick and Herman remove large limbs that are not healthy, and may come crashing down.
 The loss of these branches and two 35 year old White Pine trees has removed our natural privacy barrier.  The solution is to plant six 6 foot pines that will eventually grow a couple of feet taller and will fill in the space.

The month long project comes to a close and the gardens and grounds are picture perfect.  

Thank you for visiting "This and That" and a little bit of giving back to the earth what the elements took away.