Northeast Gardening: Projects 16, 0 by Pfg

Pfg wrote:
Edgar the pro is coming during the week to clear another bunch of stuff, including the tree in the stream. Most of that area is cleaned up now, except for that and few things I can manage myself. But now that so much is done, the last bits stick out like a sore thumb. Once the junk is gone, I can put down newspaper and mulch now and be able to plant in the spring. In one area, I'll use black plastic held down by stones over the winter, hoping to smother what's under there.

1, 2: The remnants of a foundation where there once was a shack for tin mining. There are weeds all along the far edge, including a huge Euonymus Alata growing out from between the rocks near the top. The slope goes from the Bottom Lawn up to the Middle Lawn. At the top of the foundation is a very nice compact, late-blooming Lilac. At the bottom on the left is another large weedy patch, containing Flag, raspberries, goldenrod, etc. That's where I plan to put the heavy plastic.

3: A hidden path that runs behind the old foundation up to the Middle Lawn, recently cleared. It had been completely impassable, but now that it's open it's already become very useful, especially with the wheelbarrow. DH says he used it frequently, but when he had to stop active work on the garden it was let go. Along the back of the path are a line of Azaleas. We could see a few blooms from our window, but most were hidden.

4: The hidden path from near the top. The Azaleas are beyond the evergreens on the left. On the right, above the stone wall behind the Middle Lawn, is a mature Pyracantha. It can't be seen from the house. I have no idea what it might once have climbed on. Now it's a thick trunk pruned to look like an arching shrub.

5: Looking from the top of the foundation down toward the meadow/stream. Hidden path to the left behind the weeds, new path to the stream just to the left of the big tree. At the bottom are the new Red Osier Dogwoods and a couple of Tom's Compact Clethra. Just above that, Edgar's going to move stones around to make a spot for my new, already-reserved-for-spring Acer palmatum Sangokaku. There's plenty of good soil under there, and it will get full sun and be out of the NE winds.