About 5 years ago we were having some work done in our basement and realized we'd be digging up the back yard. As part of the project we took down an enormous locust tree. Although it gave us nice shade, it dropped enough pollen, flowers and seed pods to make the back patio unusable for a month or so every summer. And, I learned later, it also was very popular with the Brood V 17-yr Cicadas (more about that in another post).
I wanted a new tree and realized that my tiny yard would mean I would only have the opportunity to select a tree ONCE for this space. I narrowed my choice down to about 5 species and visited nurseries for months in hopes of finding the right tree. Eventually I found the plum tree featured here. This special tree was lurking in the "leftovers" back lot at Mount Zion Nursery in Fairmont WV. They were concerned about moving the tree because it had been ignored for many years. In hopes of making it all work, we decided on this plan. They would dig up the tree and set it aside for 3 weeks to see if it would survive the process. If it did, they would plant it in my yard but without any guarantee. It survived its 3 week window and came to the yard.
The plum has thrived in our yard and provides pink flowers in spring and a lovely richly-colored background to our yard all summer.
During this time we also decided to get rid of the small patch of grass. I've planted a handful of different types of thyme to create a textured carpet. Plus there's always thyme available for cooking.
Commentaires