evolving landscape

I decided to share with you some before and after pictures of my various landscape projects. I will continue to take pictures as the seasons change to highlight different plants. Please note that the top picture was taken in winter while the bottom was taken in spring. The Redbud tree has been removed due to its size and proximity to the house. I have taken the Japanese privet at the corner of the house from a shrub to a "standard" or tree form. The ivy that was choking the light pole is now gone and has been replaced by grasses and sedum. The circular bed in the front yard has been turned into a hummingbird/butterfly garden and the scalloped edging is much improved. Finally, the 30 year old half blooming azaleas have been replaced by euonymous, barberry, nandina and loropetulum. I did keep the clematis as when in bloom it has the most spectacular white flowers. I have also have almost finished the other side of the front and pictures will soon follow.

privacy screen

I love my house with the exception of some annoying neighbors way behind me. They seem more interested in what is going on in my back yard then minding their own business. Oh the joys of urban living! I originally thought about doing a bamboo forest-but upon further research and speaking to someone who was trying to contain 15 foot tall stalks-I've shifted to some Formosa azaleas. They explode with tiny lavender blooms in the spring, are evergreen, thrive in dappled light, and the best part is that they mature to 8x6. That's just large enough to help me forget the neighbors behind me and also help to add some color to the other side of the creek. I'm going to containerize the shrubs this year for ease of movement and placement. I can't wait for my 8x18 living screen. When they burst with color in a couple of months, I'll add pictures.

snow in Charlotte!

Just an note to vent...I moved away from Ohio because of snow and I don't like that it followed me here! The difference is that an inch or two is business as usual in Ohio but here it shuts everything down. The kids climb dirt (or clay) mounds in attempt to sled and it's pretty much gone by evening. Anyway here's the pictures to prove that it did, in fact, snow.