Growing on Seven Years of Love…

Living in the city limits has it’s advantages, but one huge disadvantage is having your landscape look as though it’s been in place for years.  Since our garden is ‘growing on seven years of love’, we are enjoying seeing what is filling in nicely and what is not.  Recently I removed two crabapple trees that just were not what I had envisioned.  They were droopy in places and the branches didn’t seem to have a set way of growing…the only time I really loved the variety was when it was in full bloom for two weeks in the springtime. So I recently decided to go ahead and remove these two trees and replace them with something else.  Privacy is my ultimate goal and shielding the view of neighboring houses is my plan.  Each year, I can see that we are a little closer to that dream.
 
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A tree that has caught my attention this past summer was a ‘feature’ from another blog here in the Northwest (cannot remember the name of it).  The tree is called a Golden Locust Tree.  I found this tree at several nurseries over the summer, however I just couldn’t take the plunge on spending the average of $150. per tree.
 
Tomorrow we are having our entire sprinkler system re-done so that we can better manage the garden (and my time).  Over the years so many plants have grown and the needs of the garden have changed.  Before the crew came out to begin this project, I figured I better get those replacement trees in the ground.  However, when I called all of the places that I’d seen those Golden Locust Trees….they were out of stock. So I had to stretch my boundaries a bit, but found them at Whites Nursery in Lynnwood Washington. My husband and I went out there today and picked up two at $49.99 each.
 
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What I love about this tree is the color – it’s such a vibrant chartreuse green and felt it would be unbelievably beautiful against the back drop of arborvitaes. And from everything I read it’s a very fast growing tree!
 
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After

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Okay, I know it’s difficult to tell in the photos of the contrast these trees will bring to the landscape, but I assure you they will put on their own show eventually!  Right now anything that is planted is for next years garden anyway, right? These trees were also being stored in a dark corner of the nursery, and so I am assuming now that they are in full sun where they should be, the color will be much more vibrant in the future!
 
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From what I have read about these pretty trees is that their feathery foliage has an almost tropical look and may provide some shade for the plants around it. Sunburst Honey Locust is a very fast grower and has yellow blooms in the spring ~ sounds like it will carry a golden yellow color all summer long. The tag promises beautiful autumn color and produces very little litter because the leaves are so small! The Sunburst Honey Locust grows about two feet a year.  There are no thorns or pods on this variety ~ which sounded intriguing to me. A mature tree should become 35-40 foot high with a mature width of 40-45 ft. Sounds like it does well in full sun to partial sun (I have mine in full sun). Soil conditions do not sound picky and since I, like most northwest gardens have poor soil conditions because of the clay ~ this tree will be just fine.  Says it’s moderately drought tolerant ~ again, good for my garden based our recent summer season, because I cannot maintain watering on a daily basis. 
 
So looking online, here is what I (eventually) have to look forward to!
 
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To see where else I am linking to this week – please check my “Cottage Links” label…xoxo, tracie
 
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Comments

Hi Tracie. Your garden is so pretty but will benefit from the addition of your new trees. My poor garden just gets put from the beginning and then things grow out of my control and expertise. It truly is a jungle out there!..Happy Wednesday..Judy
HeatherF1 said…
I'm glad you were able to find such reasonably priced trees! They will look wonderful, I am sure.I love this time of year for the bargains at the nursery! It is just finding the space...ha ha. But big news here- we have accepted an offer on our house and will be moving. So- a whole new garden. Sad to leave my house and garden, but hopeful that we will make the next place wonderful. I still plan on sending you the seeds!
bj said…
Everything looks great...I am sooo not a gardener and have to depend on plants that pretty much take care of themselves.
Unknown said…
I think these are going to look wonderful in your landscape. I have one of those crazy expensive "specimen" trees myself. Spent a fortune on it! And that was at a wholesale whse. Sams to be exact, if you have those. I held my breath for the first couple of years, hoping it didn't die! Cheers and happy fall!
Burlap Luxe said…
Love the garden boarders, they look so European.

Would love to sit in your garden and have a little inspiring chat :)

Looking forward to seeing winters snow flurries clinging to the trees.

Xx
Dore
I think you have made a smart, loving choice for your trees! I do the same thing and it's funny, when I plant anything, I have to explain to hubby and the kids that is IS going to grow...especially when they are perturbed by the empty space a round it! It DOES fill in! :)

XO,
Jane
Unknown said…
Hi Tracie - The contrast on these trees will look amazing once they fill out. I recently bought a "dawn redwood" - it was not cheap - and when I got it home, we could hardly see it in the garden. So I know I have to wait for it to fill in too.
Pondside said…
Planting a tree is a true act of faith - in the future! I hope your lovely Golden Locusts thrive, and I hope you post photos this time next year.
My crab apple isn't looking so great anymore-I've been thinking about getting rid of it too. I like your new additions, the feathery leaves are pretty.
-Lynn
The colour of the new trees is so vibrant and I can see with your various plantings that plenty of privacy will soon be yours. I hope the trees thrive for you.

-Karen
Such lovely plantings and the privacy will be wonderful. I love the flowering trees in the spring, but sometimes they are just not the right thing.
i really wish we had a garden but sad to say, we don't have that much soil in Hong Kong.
It certainly paid off to wait until end of summer to purchase the trees. I LOVE these locusts. My parents had a mature locust in their country yard, and I had a mature locust in my backyard. Unfortunately, mine was dying for years and years, and we finally had to have it removed. It wasn't a sunburst, but it looked like a sunburst in the springtime with its fresh foliage. There was always something coming off the tree ... seed pods, flower bits, and then the tiny leaves, but it never bothered me (and we never had to rake the leaves, just mulch over them with the lawn mower). It shaded our patio with a beautiful canopy of lacy shade, that just danced in the sunlight :) You'll love your trees when they grow in a bit. I miss mine like an old friend! Wendy
Anonymous said…
Your garden is lovely and the addition of trees will make it even more so next year.
I love your garden, its so nice and full. I can not seem to achieve that look just yet. It is all trial and error. I need a fence that will shield us from the road. I know my neighbour would not like us to put a fence on his side but I am gradually filling that side in.
Anyway, love your garden
Janice
Your garden is lovely, they always look their best this time of year. Wish I had the space you have, but know it is a lot of work. Enjoy.
Jeannie

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