Urban Blight

My neighbor has been talking about building for years. A nice area of woods separates our houses and offers my yard a lot of privacy and what I have become accustomed to. Even though we are within city limits, its quite countrified and about as good as it gets for city living. Nothing really has become of the building talk and with the crashing economy, its become an issue again. Does that make sense?
When I saw contractors and chain saws, got me worried as my priorities and theirs are not one and the same. And so I became captive on guard, camera in hand while the clear cutting took place.



GASP! For now, there is no building going on which is a relief but this is how its being left for now.
Part of the mess they created in the 2nd picture is on my property!

My private woodsy world was suddenly seeming like a barren waste land so I quickly set out to regain some privacy. Put some bamboo mats on the chain link and planted some nice fast growing evergreen Holly's. I'm quite pleased with the result.
And look how much new growth in short order. These bushes are supposed to grow up to 3' or more a year. Cant wait till they're 10'!


Zoran helps with 'fertilization'.

What a guy. He's careful to not damage the bushes on departure.

May Showers and Flowers

Never mind the old addage, 'April showers brings May flowers', this is New England and the weather is always full of surprises. Just the other day it was a beautiful spring day in the 70's some places had frost warnings that night! May was very rainy this year though it did bring a profusion of greenery to our space.

With all the rain, the river is high, everything is lush and very peaceful. The Ducks and Geese can be heard early in the morning squacking their delight with spring.

Tall ground cover abounds hiding the beasties moving about. Well almost. :)

Not all is welcomed but we can live with it. Copious amounts of Poison Ivy.

Not new growth but interesting.



Beautiful big pink blooms on the Rhododendrum.
This bush was teeming with bee's. Tried my derndest to get a good picture but the best I could do. They dont sit on command.


Rows of Daylillies bursting up from the ground. Cant wait for them all to bloom.
Finally warm enough nights to move the cactus out. Being some of the slowest growing plants in the world, new growth is always so exciting. If U look carefully, the spiders have been busy spinning across this cacti.

And what a difference a week makes!


Johnny Jump Ups taking over last years tomato pots! Ive never planted any on the property but they're here and certainly pretty.


And of course what would spring be without a downed tree. :( This one came down overnight when we had rain, wind and thunder storms.
Fortunately the fence wasnt entirely crushed nor could the dogs escape. Once the tree was removed the fence was an easy fix.