Around the Yard

One of the fun parts of moving into a new house in spring is the slow emergence of the green things in the yard. Our crazy enormous backyard tree, which I think is a saucer magnolia (also called a tulip tree by some) despite being much larger than those are supposed to get, bloomed the week of Easter (April 5th-ish.) This is it in bud.



The back yard has some daffodils (bloomed late March) and some daylilies (not budding yet) in a bed along the east (downhill) side, as well as lovely ferns and hostas around the concrete patio area. There's a lot overgrown as well.

In front the very shady north-facing foundation plantings are slowly coming in; holly bushes with giant hostas on the east side of the steps, and hydrangeas and hostas on the west. 



At the northeast corner of the house is a lovely lilac about to bloom right now, and then down the east side of the house are peonies. Peonies are my favorite flower, and this house is well-provided with them! They are starting to bud.



The wall between us and the downhill neighbors had various shrubs, mostly overgrown by vines, and peonies towards the street.  There's a sadly choked lilac still making a display, and a similarly gnarled white azalea.



There's a lot of work to do in this area, and ultimately many of the shrubs should come down (they are not good for the retaining wall, among other things). 10 days ago I got a start at pulling down vines and unchoking the lilac and azalea shown above, and then the next day was hit by poison ivy. Among the honeysuckle and virginia creeper and English ivy vines are the dreaded PI as well - and its leaves were not yet out when I was working. They are now.



So, I am not going over there at all right now. Maybe I'll have to hire someone. I am very very allergic to poison ivy, and after the past week my attitude is: