Fred&Toots

Trees

Well, the hedge is down and it's lying in front of my house.  The arborist we hired failed to mention that his chipper was on the fritz. 

The wrong fence panels were delivered and went unnoticed until the weekend which was a holiday weekend which meant the place we got them from was closed all weekend.  Some of the right panels were delivered so we're not in full view of the neighbours (Thank goodness!!!).   Streaking from the bathroom to the bedroom has  been put on hold for awhile.  I know it will all get done and everything will work out it's just a bit trying when you're taking things down and putting things up with neighbours who have different views.   I'm sure they feel the same way and so far so good, we're all doing our best to be patient with one another.

I was told that the hedge we removed was planted sometime in the 60's. They were fir saplings leftover from a tree sale at the local school so the then owners of the house planted them in a row along the driveway.  Fir isn't really hedge material, much better standing on its' own.  Fir is near impossible to shape as a hedge so our 'hedge' always had a straggly look about it.   So now thinking about the fence which will be up this weekend (please!) and trees to plant.  Thank you all for your suggestions.  I loved all of them - so many trees to choose from.  I don't want to get ahead of myself so will see what I have to work with when the fence is up and front yard cleaned up.   All I know is that I really want to think about what I will plant so people can enjoy it for a long time.

With trees on the brain, look what I found at a garage sale not too long ago.  I love the illustrations...

   

How Does It Feel To Be A Tree? by Flo Morse, Illustrated by Clyde Watson, 1976.  Parent's Magazine Press, New York.

When you're tired
and fall,
Will they haul you away?

I'm feeling a bit sad for the poor fir trees but it sure makes the air smell all like Christmas!

Garden Delight

My trillium is alive!  I was concerned that I had destroyed it this fall when I was moving a few plants around.  I was eagerly anticipating it this Spring but could see no sign of it when just like magic there it was, just as it appears here...

The leaves just mysteriously pushed through the soil and spread out overnight. 

Something else that I was eagerly anticipating was the return of the Rufous Hummingbird.  For the past 5 Springs that I have spent in this house the Rufous hummingbird has come to visit.  I just put out the *feeder yesterday and much to my delight there he was this morning!  My neighbours have a cherry tree which has just started blooming and I have a flowering quince so the hummingbird was having quite a day flitting from blossom to blossom to feeder.  The colours on such a tiny bird are amazing.  He would turn ever so slightly and his gorget would be like a brilliant coral and then other times a rich gold.  To think this little guy has just migrated all the way from Mexico!

* I've used a 1 part white, granulated sugar to 4 parts water.  Red food colouring is unneccessary.  The feeder must be cleaned on a regular (I've read anywhere from 3 to 7 days) basis.