The "rescued" trees

Looking east from the raised garden. This tree was hidden by brambles last year.

This is one of its buds, just starting to unfold.

This is the blossom, just starting, on the small tree that hangs over the south-side of the pond deck. It should soon be pure white.

These, some of the first trees freed-up from the briars and brambles and vines, are starting to bud, flower, and look healthy. (Thank you, Jose and team, for the day late last year you spent clearing me a three-foot path all the way around the raised garden... I know you were not keen on the job but were nice enough not to refuse it!)

It is only now that I'm beginning to see, to appreciate, how much land goes with this house. Last summer, it was a small lawn at the front and a raised lawn at the back with some borders and some nice hydrangeas. And some grass around the edge of the house.

Now, with the front opened up, and the vines coming out of the trees... it's enormous. Just putting a few tomato plants in containers on the pond deck showed how much room there is there for a container garden.

Now I know where I can grow vegetables. Late last year, I thought it would be impossible. Now it's easy to see: there can be raised beds just behind the house. It gets plenty of sunlight and it drains well. But that has to come after a deer fence, otherwise they will be too happy for their own good ;-)