Trees seem to be the best entry point. The established tree canopy reflects the hundred+ year cycle of tree planting in a urban mountain town. Our neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, and as a planned development, had street trees (now mature) as well as prosperous homeowners, who planted a variety of native and non-native trees, many of which now form the urban forest in our neighborhood.
Surprisingly, even in a small-plotted historic urban development, front lawns continue to be popular, as they were a century ago. I guess that's not really surprising, now that I think about it. (But, I also think about imaginative front yard gardens in places like Buffalo, Portland, Washington, DC and Seattle, etc....)
We were SO glad to be rid of the riding lawn mower when we moved here; there's no lawn in our front landscape, that's for sure.
So my initial message will be about tree choice, tree replacement (as the mature trees die), and at least, putting in the screen about re-knitting the fabric of life in our urban community.
We do have a lot of trees in our neighborhood, but need to keep replacing them as they mature, not just with small ornamentals, but also with native oaks, maples, hemlocks, and hickories, as space permits, along with wonderful (and resilient) story trees like gingkos.
There's always a place for a gingko (in one's lifetime), in my opinion. A wonderful venerable gingko in our historic neighborhood, fortunately planted with room, is enjoyed by me and many others. This one won't have as long, but will be enjoyed for many years to come.
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| last fall (in front of the house) |
