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Professional Pruning

I rarely resort to hiring help in the garden but I'm learning that sometimes it is wise to do so and worth every penny. Case in point - some hideous out-of-control trees that were beyond my ability to deal with. If I were smarter, I would have tackled these issues from the beginning but I didn't know better. The first is a pear tree that was planted along the back fence line. I've worked on this for the past several years, every year with the intent of reducing the height or possibly removing it altogether. As you can see in the photo, I had cut back everything but three limbs and finally realized that it would be dangerous for me to try and bring them down. The limbs grow straight up into the air and the remaining three are about 20 feet tall.  After -- there is a hole in the sky view but the tree should fill in nicely for a good screen and I can keep it trimmed down from this point forward. Farther down along the fence line, and the view from the deck, are two massive pho

A Chandelier in the garden


Last year when our garden was featured on the local garden tour, this little number received about as many comments as the purple wall. It was Michael's idea, who has a knack for these things. The chandelier had been sitting in our basement for years. I had considered putting it inside the iron pergola in the secret garden but he told me he wanted to try something else. Just days before the tour (in fact, it may have been the day before!), he transformed the fixture into a hanging basket of sorts. The bottom portion of the chandelier was removed and a planter form was cut and fitted in. Potting soil and sphagnum moss was added and then, viola! A chain was added and draped over a branch and secured at the trunk of our massive pecan tree. It is very heavy so the only time I lower it is to replant it in the spring. It is watered with the spray from the hose and since it is hard to get to, I don't fertilize it.

I am still experimenting with plant materials. This year's planting of coleus, ivy and calibrachoa leaves a lot to be desired. The coleus has gotten way too large and the calibrachoa and ivy are puny. Last year I used New Guinea impatients and ivy which turned out nicer.

Comments

  1. I'm so glad to see you've started a blog! I really enjoyed touring your garden and now I'm looking forward to being able to see it here in other seasons too.

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  2. Thanks Rurality, I enjoy your blog too. I visit it every day!

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  3. Your blog is absolutely wonderful! I was just introduced to it via Pam over at Digging, and I'm so glad I found you! I'll definitely be back :-)

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  4. Welcome to the gardening blog world, and I love the chandelier and the purple wall is wonderful! I love yard art.

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  5. very cool idea. it may not have turned out as well as you wanted, but it made for a great photo.

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  6. Like stumbling onto a buried treasure chest. Your blog is a real treat, and I love the chandelier, both concept and execution. Keep up the grand work, please!

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  7. Thanks for all your comments. I really appreciate it!

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  8. I love the chandelier! It's great to see quirky things in the garden and they always attract my attention on garden tours. And your purple wall! Wish I'd been on that tour. Very nice blog!

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  9. This garden provokes to see us to go and enjoy the nature

    Sunil

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