One of the things that I found truly oppressive to my spirit this spring was just how overgrown the perimeters of the yard had become. I knew they were overgrown, but I hadn't actually thought about it and how much psychic weight all those leaves and vines carried, until I had time to sit back and actually take a look.
Last week we had over a dozen large trees taken out, for the most part trees that we at the bottom of our cliff and which had finally grown up high enough to begin impinging on our view of the Hudson. This week I had the small brush person here cleaning up the woods along the perimeter of the driveway. When I first moved here I could see the rock ledge between my house and the street year round, and I could see the house as I rounded the first bend in my driveway. These views had been obscured by trees and shrubs for years, since G stopped spending many weekends cutting back trees and brush 5 or 6 years ago. No wonder I had started liking the winter view more than the summer view. Now that is about to change.
Here are some before pictures:
And here is the view coming down the hill now, from roughly right behind where the chipper is standing in the above photo:
And here is one end of the large rock outcropping between us and the street:
You can only see a large vague dark shape in the background. The rest of that outcropping is still hidden by brush and small trees. We had only scheduled 2 days of cutting and chipping and needed three, the last day will be the end of July, but already it is a great improvement. Rather than feeling like I am descending into the bowels of the jungle as I approach my driveway, I am filled with lightness and relief.
I will spend some of the weekend redistributing the piles of wood chips more evenly among the trees, and cleaning up some of the small things. But mostly I am still working on the finer points of the front yard, although it is much improved over last year.
Comments
8 responses to “The View Through The Trees”
You live in a gorgeous area! It’s hard to take out vegetation and trees but you’ve got the formula down: the return of old favorite vistas and landmarks.
I understand what you mean about the lightness of feeling when you’re not hemmed in by all of the growth. It’s a never-ending battle against the plants, but it’s so worth it. It looks gorgeous now. We all like to live in our own little ‘park’, and it makes us happy when we do.
Wow! What a gorgeous space . . . letting in all that light will allow you to appreciate it so much more. Enjoy!
I can see the difference, and understand why the lack of light and obscuring of views weighed on you.
Good for you, getting help restoring the light and views.
Yikes! A DOZEN trees?
That is a major amount of tree work. Is this instead of a lavish vacation?
We’ve lost several oaks over the years and have gotten to the point where we have the trees trimmed before they crash down in a storm. It allows you to shop around for tree guys who’re always in short supply after a big storm.
There is such a thing as too much shade and even though I love trees I also like a little sun to fall on my yard.
I love to see all the green. I swear it never gets that green here in San Diego. As my husband likes to say, “It’s a desert!”
Good for you for taking back your views.
We really would need someone come over and do some serious work over here too. We now live in a jungle!
Mary Beth, I kept procrastinating and now I wonder what took
me so long.
Liana, yes, that is it exactly. Although I have been known to wish that
wishing alone would make it happen.
M: It is pretty now, it was pretty scary
before.
Susan:
Yes, sometimes I think the garden is a metaphor for life. We get all
caught up in our own personal jungles and then sometimes we just need to clear
out the trees.
Rose,
yes it would have been a nice vacation.
But now I can take a vacation on my own deck and watch the boats on the
Hudson.
Sewing Librarian, sometimes when everything
gets all overgrown, I miss the open spaces of Texas, where I didnt feel like I
was being overtaken by the greenery. But overall, I do like the green,
and the tall trees.
Mette, sometimes it seems like the jungle
creeps up on us when we aren’t looking.