MY EXTREME BACK YARD MAKEOVER BEGINS

Welcome to my back yard. It is so dark back there, that the flash went on as soon as I approached the gate. The former owner of my house was eccentric. Well, so am I, but I would not have planted Arborvitae across the lot/fence line, knowing that they were destined to reach 50 ft or more, and quickly if not tended, aggressively pruned and thinned. If I planted them anywhere there would be only half or less, as they should never be that close together.

Management of the trailer park (excuse me: Mobile Estates) reneged on a promise to cut the trees (for they had become trees rather than shrubbery) when I bought my house. The neighbor directly behind me got a bid of $3,000 just to have them trimmed back and neither of us could even go halves on that. His TV antenna has been broken by the branches creeping across his roof. Branches have reached my roof, swallowing a gorgeous heritage cherry and valuable lace-leaf maple on it's way.



















The ground is covered with a thick layer of tree detritus or humus or whatever you call that special dirt that forms on the floor of a forest. Ivy has grown rampant all over that rich layer and up onto a concrete bench, old yard fixtures and things I can't even identify.


The fence is useless - bent down and full of holes. My dogs can only go out on a leash or tie-out or they will immediately leap the fence to explore. Notice that the neighbor's electric meter box is on my side of the fence. The former owner was not only eccentric, he was territorial, cutting a swath out of the neighbor's yard as he proudly planted his tiny little arborvitae, never to see them reach their full height and eventual removal. When my brother helps me replace the fence with something dog-proof, I'll give that swath of lot back to the neighbor. He's a nice man who doesn't care any more than I do how much back yard he has. I just think it would make more sense. I still have plenty of room.
I had already scraped up a considerable layer of that special dirt, forging a path for the arborist who I'd been told was on his way, when I remembered to get my camera to document this exciting event in my life.

I took 38 pictures and came inside to put them up as I wait. It is almost 3pm and they said they would be here by 1 or 1:30. I have to admit I am very excited - I feel like I'm the recipient of an extreme yard makeover. Dale said Nate will scale the trees one at a time and send pieces down for him to run through the chipper, leaving me with yards and yards of barkdust. Hell, he can do three trees at a time, they're so close together. I know it's threatening to rain and is sprinkling a bit, but nobody has called to say they aren't coming. I've already told all the neighbors. Jim is worried about his gazebo and the neighbor behind said to use his yard anyway necessary to get the job done.
I guess I'll go scrape up some more dirt and dog poop and start a compost pile and if I still need something to do, there's always the weeding out front that needs some roundup.