Thursday, July 9, 2020

Backyard Before & Afters

I found myself looking at some photos from 2010 when we first looked at this house (before we made an offer) and I was struck at the difference in the backyard. I decided to try and take some "after" photos. I could not take the photos from exactly the same spots.
Before photo taken in April 2010, when we toured the house.
Before photo taken in April 2010, when we toured the house.
This is not really an "after" photo as we continue to make changes, but this is how it looks today.

We have recently been adding elderberry shrubs but they're mostly too small to see them in photos. Last month we added a Sambucus nigra 'Purpurea' (black elderberry) in the rain garden behind the house ultimately to replace the ninebark. I have not been happy with how the ninebark looks in the garden and while it is a native, it is not terribly useful to birds and bees. According to my research, the elderberries will have more value for the birds and bees and I prefer the way they look once they're grown. (I realize that ninebarks are supposed to be good for bees, but I really paid attention this year. I went outside several times a day and I virtually never saw any bees on its flowers.)

Then today, we planted two new shrubs under the red oak, a Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' (black elderberry) and a Ribes nigrum 'Black September' (black currant). I obviously have a weakness for burgundy shrubs.

2 comments:

  1. I did a 'walk round our garden' photoshoot this morning and am planning to hook out some 'when we first arrived pictures' to go with them on a blog post. It is so lovely to look back and see the changes isnt it. xx

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    1. It really is fun to look back at old photos. I look forward to seeing yours as well.

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