Around the Redeemed Garden in 2013! Part 2

  I told you I had more for you to see, lol! If you didn't get to see Part 1, there it is! So much to do and so little time but the rewards are well worth it all.

Solomon Seal peaking over the bench!

   These two pictures are of what we all call "The Secret Garden", it is where my daughter and her friend next door have sat and played for hours. Its a shared space and brings us closer with our neighbor. Years ago it was all grass and it a 11'x28' area. My wife and I made many trips to the rivers in the West Virginia area and collected each rock and hauled them back (lots of fun stories there). I hand dug all the grass up, pored all the sand to set rocks in,  painstakingly sat each rock by hand, pored pea gravel between the rocks and planted each shade loving plant. Lots of hard work but well worth the finished garden! And there is my little garden sidekick, Maple!








  Here are the new additions to the front gardens. On the left, we had to remove a storm damaged bush, so we replaced it with a male "China Boy" Holly. Yes, you do have to have a male and female bush of this verity to produce berries! We also planted another Dwarf Boxwood. Its a little empty looking now but it will fill in quickly. On the right, is our new "Flowering Purple Plumb", if you will remember we had a bad storm, called a "Derecho" hit us, and it took out one of my "Bradford Pears". We just replaced it and we think we will like this specimen much better! Read more on my thoughts of "Bradford Pears", in "Bradford Pears, You can Keep Them".

  I know this isn't part of the garden but she is such an obedient and loyal friend! This is a make shift bench beside my garden, I call it my prayer bench. When we go to it she knows not to cross the railroad ties for anything, she lays right there. As you can see, I have my coffee, read the scriptures, pray and listen to God's creation as the sun comes up or goes down as often as we can. We could all learn a lot from how unconditional a dog loves!
  I'm sure more will come as the season progress. Until next time, God Bless and happy gardening!

Psalm 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal."

Bradford Pears Trees, You Can Keep Them!

 You may think of the "Bradford Pear Tree" as that beautiful white flowered tree that lines the roads or long driveways of most newer built subdivisions. Maybe you think of the great autumn colors and how long the keep there leaves in the fall. Maybe you like how the birds are attacked to your yard to enjoy the little treats that they produce. Well, that's fine a good but you can keep them all! At one time we had 6 total planted on our little city lot but do to winds, snow and just their weak splits we only have one left. Its not just us its many neighbors in my neighborhood have had the same luck. Just today, I had to cut down another one! Yes, I agree that they are very pretty trees but they will not last you very long. I would try other trees such as "Purple Plumb", "Dogwood","Crab apple" or if you have to have an ornamental pear, try a "Cleveland Pear".  
  They split easily, they grow suckers, and they have a very shallow root system. As they grow taller, much stress is put on the lower and larger joints of the tree, which invariably causes splitting.Its not fun planting beds around them either, since the roots are so shallow. And let me tell you the stumps take forever to decompose and they shut suckers up off the stump for years to come. So if you have to cut one down, which if you plant one I guarantee you will in your lifetime, be sure to have the stump ground out of the ground (approx. 300.00 plus dollars). The trees may also suffer from fire blight or entomosporium leaf spot, both diseases that can kill the tree if left untreated.So in my opinion, leave it untreated, lol!
  I tried trimming them as the experts say to do. Every Year I would prune them back but Oh know that doesn't work either. Face it, Stay clear of these weak trees. Unless you leave somewhere were the wind doesn't blow, the snow doesn't fall or the rain isn't to long, lol!
  The Bradford Pear tree was introduced into the United States in 1963 by the USDA, having been planted here since after the turn of the last century. They are originally native to Korea and China and I wish they would have kept them! It is a fast growing tree that flowers early in spring before any leaves are born and have a short life because of the quick growth!
  Well I have done what I can to warn you, lol! So now its up to you what you do with the info provided! Good Luck and God Bless!


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