A New Little Blossom in the Education Garden

First School Photo










Our eldest grandchild sent us her school photo from kindergarten.  Just like the other garden, things keep rejuvenating.   This time around, we just get to enjoy the photos and leave all the "making of the lunches" to our adult children.   Thank you Lila for the picture.  We are very proud of you.

Autumn reflections

 We are at the height of color.  There is no freeze yet, which explains the bright hues.  This is my favorite place to read.

Winter in Hastings on Hudson

Yes, this is a photo taken this November. We still have very lovely weather. These are the last of the flowers, along with a couple of roses still showing their faces.

November Colors

Tomatoes from the garden, even at this late date. But we are at the very tail end of the survivors. 

Today, there was evidence of sleet in the rain.  It is cold and damp outside.

Autumn in New York

    The colors this year are exceptional.  This is our backyard.

Digging up the steps

T Today we started our backyard landscaping project.  I expect that it will take us at least a year to complete it.   Eddie and I dug up some of the buried back steps.  It was our first archeological dig...and of all places..in our backyard. 

Making a plan for our backyard project

The backyard needs a lot of work.  We have decided to give it a guided naturalized look.  Right now it has a look of "transition".  Take a look at our progress.

Just kidding!!
Our backyard view cannot be improved.  However, the is a lot of work to do on the ground.

Since we cut down the huge hollow oak we are being invaded by "alien plants" that eagerly suck up the newly available open space and sunshine left by the gap from the felled oak tree. Japanese Knotwood, wild rose and Japanese wisteria are everywhere.  They are attacking all the native plants around them.  We cut out many invasive vines that were strangling a number of our baby dogwood, ash, birch and black cherry trees.  It will be months before we get it all completely cleaned up.  And we need to read a lot of books to understand what to get rid of and what to encourage.