Since February, I have joined the fabulous women from Is This Mutton, MK’s Adventures in Style, Deb’s World, Grownup Glamour, Frugal Fashion Shopper, and Following My Muse for a global writing challenge. So I was thrilled when Gail asked if I wanted to be a permanent member of this group. Obviously, I accepted! We also have three other new writers in the group. Welcome to Suzy from The Grey Brunette, Sue from Living Well after 50, and Leslie from Once Upon a Time, Happily Ever After! Penny chose this month’s prompt, and it’s a good one! I hope you’ll visit all of these blogs because you are going to be amazed at, not only the diversity of the ideas, but the photos are fabulous! There’s also a link party!
Once upon a time…
Once upon a time, we lived in a glorious big home on about 1.25 acres. Over the years, we planted more than 100 trees with about 75 of them surviving and growing quite large. In fact, the back yard looked a bit like a forest. Certainly, no grass grew back there. In 2015, we sold it to a young family and hoped they’d love the place as much as we did. Imagine my shock and horror when I drove past to see that not only had the back fence been torn down but only about 10-15 trees remained! We had some lovely maples, Norway spruces, all kinds of pine trees, and my absolute favorite, a willow tree. Nigel always said that would be the first thing someone would do…chop down the trees. Unfortunately, he was so right.
You say potato…
Y’all get the reference, right? I decided to go in a completely different direction than expected. And, I also thought I’d interpret the word, garden, in the manner of the British. Here, across the pond, we call these areas yards. We have front yards, back yards, and side yards. I suppose this is just another sign of contrariness from us!
A winter garden…
The last few years we lived up north, we had some pretty spectacular snowfalls. I do love a good layer of snow. It makes your imagination go wild! I took several photos from different places around the house, inside and outside, upstairs and downstairs. I love the way the snow coats the branches of the trees. I think it’s fun to look at the snow piled up on the lattice work on the inside of the fence. The gate was always whopper-jawed, but, somehow, that just added to the character of the back yard. These photos are from the same year and haven’t been edited. I like how the yellow metal bench is the only color really showing.
A little more…
These photos are from a few different years. A few of them are pretty low quality, and I apologize. I am so glad I kept these on my phone so I could remember the way this back yard used to look. I was probably using my first iPhone. Look at those poor bushes weighed down by the snow. They would bounce back every year.
Still more…
My oldest granddaughter used to call icicles ice miracles. That may have been because they lived near Norfolk, Virginia and rarely saw snow let alone icicles! I tried to take photos of the ice miracles that formed at one end of our back deck and send them to my daughter. The front yard also saw its share of glorious snow! I think these photos were taken after we had finally gotten a snowblower! Our driveway was over 120 ft (36.6 m) long and took forever to shovel! I really like how the only spot of color you see is the stop sign at the corner!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
It is definitely bittersweet to look through these photos. There are so many memories tied to this house, this back yard (or garden), these trees. Each tree had its own story. But, life goes on, right? So, can we talk? How do you feel about winter gardens? Are you a fan of yard art? Do you have a story connected to any of your trees? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise I will respond as soon as possible.
Thank you!
I cannot tell you how much you all mean to me. I thank you so much for reading, commenting, emailing, subscribing, or following me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend with Michelle every Thursday. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
What others are saying…
Gail from Is This Mutton shares her spring and summer planting and tips
Deb admits she likes gardens but isn’t much of a gardener herself – preferring to take photos instead.
Sue shares the health benefits of spending time in the garden and enjoys exploring the public gardens in Brisbane and near her home.
Suzy from The Grey Brunette isn’t keen on gardening but she misses having her own since her house was sold last year. She and her husband are currently building their dream home and are excited about planning their new garden.
Leslie is happily joining the Tell Us About link up and sharing a look at her oasis in the far west Texas Chihuahuan Desert.
Michelle asks Is gardening like quilting? Absolutely! I was amazed when I realized that I plan my gardens the same way I plan my quilts.
MK from mksadventuresinstyle tells us about The Hobby That Got Out of Hand.
Penny loves both gardens and the physical act of gardening which she has returned to in her new abode. She takes you through a journey of how her love of gardening developed.
And, now, it’s your turn!
We invite you to join the link party with your thoughts on gardens or gardening.
What an amazing achievement Marsha to plant 100 trees! Loved the pictures of them in the snow. Very sad they were chopped down when you left. There’s something so special about trees, not least their longevity. Recently in my old home city, Plymouth, the council chopped down some trees in the town center at night, and as you can imagine there was a huge outcry and the council changed hands in the recent elections as a result. Thanks for joining the challenge and sharing your first post!
Well, we didn’t plant all 100 all at once. Some of them were just seedlings. When the trees had all leafed out, our house disappeared from sight as you approached it from the east. I was so upset and angry when I saw they were gone.
I’m so glad to be part of this challenge! Thanks so much for inviting me!
How absolutely wonderful to plant so many trees. Trees are not only beautiful they are so beneficial to our planet – they literally give breath to this earth. so I can readily understand how you felt about the new owners chopping some of them them down – nooooo! But actually the same happened to my large garden, the new owners chopped down several trees, just awful. Also although nowadays we are far more aware of the importance of trees, some large councils and/or property developers cut down mature trees for ‘developments’! Eek – there is currently a big row brewing in my home town about a new development and the apparent necessity of chopping down many mature trees – all in the name of profit of course
As for winter gardens, in the UK the weather is sufficiently mild enough for us all to try to have some kind of foliage and flowering plants going through all the seasons. You don’t always succeed in the winter but it is possible.
It’s lovely to see you being part of this collaboration 🙂
Thank, Penny! We planted some of the trees from seedlings Mike would find in his mom’s yard. Our oldest son worked for a wholesale greenhouse and would rescue trees from the “dead pile.” Nothing made me happier than to resurrect those trees. And, of course, we would get little saplings from school for Arbor Day (do you have that). Of the over 100, we probably only bought 10-15 fully grown trees. I was so upset when I saw they were all gone.
I completely understand about trees being cut down for developments. We are a suburb of Indianapolis and are also close to the airport and a train hub. So, there are massive concrete warehouses being built everywhere. And, we have the number 1 school system in the state so everyone wants to live here which means more land and trees dug up for housing developments. I can’t complain too much because our last house was in one of those developments.
I have always dreamed of visiting the UK in the winter…maybe this year! And, I am so glad to be part of this collaboration. I think it’s going to be invigorating for my brain!
Beautiful plants and garden.
https://www.melodyjacob.com/2023/05/how-do-you-make-your-breast-look-bigger-without-surgery.html
Thanks, Melody!
I much prefer my garden in the 3 other season than in winter. LOL. I am not a fan of winter gardens and snow; though I will admit it looks pretty.
Hahaha!!! You may have snow longer than we do, but I loved the photos I took. I decided to go in a different route from what I figured everyone else would go!
Thanks, Joanne!
I had to link up an old one as I haven’t even done a new garden post this year. Coming soon though!
Oh, your gardens make me so jealous, Amy! I wish we had stayed at our old house so I could garden to my heart’s desire!
Beautiful snowy pictures! It was really enjoyable to look through them as we haven’t had snow here is a number of years. I love the tree view and what a shame that the new family cut them down.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! I love snow and how it can completely change the way a yard looks! Yes, I was devastated when I saw how many they had cut down…so many really good varieties, too!
Hi Marsha, welcome to the Tell Us About team and your first post :). I love the snowy gardens and the way they just bounce back after being dumped on is amazing! We planted many trees when we moved into our place 30+ years ago and now they are magnificent specimens. It must have been a huge shock when you saw the trees you’d planted had been taken out – such a shame! I enjoyed your post and it’s great to have you join in and share your corner of the world with us 🙂
Thanks, Debbie! I am so glad to be part of this because I do like to write. My blog posts are usually more words than photos! Oh, I honestly gasped in shock when I drove past the house. We had moved 2.5 hours away so hadn’t been back to see it. Since the house is right on the country road, there was no missing the missing trees! They had cut them down before even seeing where the shade would be in the summer…big mistake!
I am truly so happy to be a part of this writing challenge! I look forward to learning more about everyone!
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What a fantastic topic for a link up! I just did a post on my flowering planters so this couldn’t have come at a better time. What a wonderful idea to talk about a winter garden. It’s a different kind of beautiful! I don’t miss it but glad you shared the beauty in something that I take for granted.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks so much, Kathrine! I am a little behind on blog reading so I hope to read yours this weekend if not before. I’ll bet you’ve had some gorgeous photos in the snow!
All that snow – it looks like a winter wonderland! I love gardens and want a beautifully landscaped yard. But I need someone to come take care of it because I kill everything – ha!!! But boy do pretty flowers make me smile!
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks, Kellyann! I thought I’d be ok living in a condominium community, but I’m really beginning to feel restricted. Mike loves it here, though! I have to be content with lots of containers of flowers!
WOW Marsha, your garden was absolutely beautiful in the winter. I do miss proper winters with all that snow…not that I ever saw much of it, having left the UK when I was ten. It’s one of the reasons we often have our holidays in the winter, so we can travel north and experience some snow! I’d love to have a big garden full of trees though…especially Willows. They’re my favourite because when I was a kid, my best pal and I use to go to a local park and play among two beautiful Weeping Willows. Brings back such lovely memories.
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thanks so much, Suzy! It was truly a beautiful place all year round! I love snowscapes and had to go that route! I would love to be in the UK some winter. I think it would be gorgeous!
I like your different perspective! We had about an acre at our old home with lots of gorgeous garden and landscaping around. It was a bear to keep up with honestly, but it was gorgeous in winter when all the trees and bushes were snow covered. We had so many birds! We had to chop down many trees because of disease, but replanted ones so I hope they are there and growing!
Thanks, Laura! We had the front of the house professionally landscaped when we first moved in because we were young and dumb! But, over the years, some of the bushes died and we were able to put our own stamp on the actual landscaping. The backyard was all us, though. I loved it so much and spent so much time out there just enjoying the sounds, reading a good book, or just escaping from life!
I hope your trees are still there, too!
I’d never thought of looking at a garden in winter for this challenge, but what an amazing idea! And your winter yard was absolutely glorious! I love how snow layers over the branches. And the icicles hanging from them is so cool! (Pun intended!) You also reminded me of the place I lived before I met Dan. It was a condo that backed up to a golf course, and in the winter, it was a winter wonderland. I have a few photos, but not enough now that I see this post. Brilliant post, Marsha!
Thanks, Michelle! My gardening days are limited to pots here and there which saddens me because I love growing things. And, I thought I’d do something a little different. I was looking through my photos, and the idea was born! I loved the snow weighing down the trees and bushes. Snow was rarely an issue. A bad ice storm would break branches and sometimes kill trees.
You may not have many photos, but they bring back lots of memories, right?
You’re right, they do. And they are very good memories. Better than I realized at the time. Isn’t that odd?
True…
Marsha – certainly a heartbreaker about the trees. I think once you move from a place, it’s best to never go back again and look…
You are probably right, Mary Katherine. But, I loved that house so much and just wanted a peek at it one last time. My daughter is friends with the people who own it. They have shiplapped every room in that house, I swear!
Thanks, Mary Katherine, for coming by!