When we purchased our lot in 1990, both of us were still 'young' enough to handle its size.
Over the years, as we both age and decline in health; it has proven to be more than big enough!
BUT we still take pride in our Estate:
Photo taken on May 3 and our lawn is nice green again.
This is the bridge closest to the road where Pieter used vinyl picket fence parts, that got damaged from the tree cutting.
Our center bridge restored and wood treated.
Our 3rd bridge that Pieter managed to complete on April 30.
Yes on the day that we had his Birthday dinner in the evening...
Just walked over JIT = Just In Time before it was DONE.
Yep, a 93 year old + 1 day...
Okay, let me take you back into the wood garden after the tree crew cut down several ugly ones or those that were not so healthy.
We let them decompose naturally and it will take but a couple of years.
This was on March 23, just for the oversight of our wood trail.
The trail makes a kind of |_|_| through our wood garden, towards all 3 bridges.
The creek is very calm here and it is forever changing over the years.
We look towards the road, standing on the 3rd bridge and you see the center bridge and the one closest to the road with the vinyl picket fence.
Now looking towards the house and gazebo...
Also on March 23.
On April 30, our Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold was once more at its best.
Each spring the new leaves are golden.
Yes, even live oaks do shed their leaves and renew in the spring!
Our palm trees are growing fast and to the right you see the White Oak towering tall over the more compact Grand View Gold.
Such a perfect day with blue sky and here, you see the Grandview Gold seen from the front.
On May 3, we walked the Wood Trail over the bridge closest to the road and when we bend left, we come past a damaged mailbox that Pieter used for bird house, with a hole made in the pull down lid.
When I opened it, not knowing that it was occupied, a Carolina Wren flew out!
There are 4 eggs but a bit strange that there is one white one...?
Looks like a brood parasitic bird has been in action here.
In certain areas there are short bridges on the wood trail... This one is the first after passing the bird house.
Those are now all repaired and treated in order to preserve the wood.
There were initially ditches dug for letting the water flow down towards the creek, so here is another bridge for walking over.
One can tell that it has been quite windy on and off and blossoms fall from trees down.
And the next one, passing over a former ditch or area where it can be wet in winter time.
This section used to be wet and had a bridge but Pieter is not replacing this one as there is no longer a need for.
A short section.
And now were coming almost out of the woods.
Our gazebo is visible and to the left our house.
But 3 days later, on May 6, this happened in that corner at our neighbor's yard!
We were for 7 hours without power as there were lots of trees down in our area and we had a lot of wind gusts, no tornado warning but a severe storm passed through.
Scary when you see such a giant being toppled!
We're grateful for having cut our weaker trees down early November last year.
Related link:
Bridge and Underbrush Clearing | previous post from January
Our Bridges a Constant Battle with Mother Nature | previous post by me
What a lovely place you have. There's always something to do in a home and garden. You and Pieter are so very talented to do a lot of work. I like those bridges you have built. Take care and be happy.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteThank you and it is lovely to be right in nature and to see things bloom and leaf out but oh, the uptake of such a vast property at our age... But so far we've managed to do it, with the help of a gardening team that come in regularly to mow the lawn and do the edges and such.
Also the tree crew of course is a must.
Hugs,
Mariette
Mariette and Pieter, your lot is beautiful! The paths and bridges and that creek, they all look magical.
ReplyDeleteIt shows how much care and pride you have in your house and it's surroundings and I bet that having a cup of tea or coffee or a tall glass of sweet iced tea in that porch on a summer afternoon (with your beautiful silverware and table linens), makes it taste even better!
Even the birds choose to live in your lot, so they must be in to something!
I hope that no one got hurt, when that tree collapsed and that those winds have calmed down.
Have a wonderful day!
:)
Dearest Paula,
DeleteIt is a beautiful place indeed and since 1990 we have managed to maintain it.
Sitting in our gazebo with a hot tea (we never became a real southerner I guess) or coffee is a favorite spot and peering over all the hard work done.
Yes, we got plenty of wildlife in our garden and also got our Backyard Wildlife HABITAT Certification since August 1997. You can search under that label.
Oh, our back neighbors got oh so lucky that the tree fell that way. With an entire day's work by the tree crew it got removed.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi Mariette! You have a lovely yard. The strong winds are really scary. Beautiful bridge.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteOh, the power of the wind is scary as could be seen here in this image.
The bridges are well restored and hoping they last us for as long as we will live.
Hugs,
Mariette
I'm glad everybody was safe!
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a coffee person, although I like to drink tea, too, but I think that in the heat of the Summer, there is nothing like a very cold drink!
:)
Dearest Paula,
DeleteOh sure, it could have been disastrous.
Believe it or not, we never adapted to ice cold drinks and did opt for a refrigerator without ice machine. We just buy a bag of ice if needed for a larger group of people.
Hugs,
Mariette
Your property is gorgeous, Mariette, and I'm so impressed that both of you are still tending to it. Wow! And I'm relieved to know that the only thing that large, fallen tree took out was the power. It could have been so much worse!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, and hope you're feeling better!
Dearest Martha Jane,
DeleteThank you but maintaining it and having it look decent, takes a lot of hard work!
No the tree did not take the power out, don't know what caused that and where. Our subdivision has no power lines above ground, so it must have happened somewhere else.
My back pain is not yet yielding to better behavior...
Hugs,
Mariette
I would love to sit ... share afternoon tea with you ... walk your lovely grounds. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteYou are welcome any time you would happen to be in our region. Aside from afternoon tea sharing, you can stay at our Rose Suite!
Hugs,
Mariette
You have a beautiful property Mariette. A lot of upkeep, and you've both done a fantastic job. Your Pieter is quite the man...at his age and still going strong. My husband is the same way - he's 65 and so far so good. I know some men around his age that can't do half the things my husband can.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using a old mailbox as a birdhouse. I wonder where the white egg came from?
Thanks for sharing your beautiful land with us.
Dearest Debby,
DeleteThank you and yes, Pieter is going strong and for a couple of hours each days he proceeds.
Oh, we at times see men around 40 that hardly can move and don't look at all for being active in any way. They will pay the price for it; eventually.
In retrospect I wish I'd seen the white egg (as I held my iPhone 13 Pro inside to capture them) and removed the white intruder. But now we are afraid that we might disturb them.
Hugs,
Mariette
Pierer did good, you have such a lovely home and garden, I don't drink tea or coffee never have just don't like the taste of either much in fact I really don't like coffee
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteThank you and when it is properly cared for, it sure looks good.
We drink coffee with breakfast, for me one small cup and Pieter some more after that.
Then it is on to our green tea. Love both but no more coffee as it dehydrates and also made me way too hyper and my thyroid works already too fast.
Hugs,
Mariette
Cuando al final se termina el trabajo y el resultado es tan satisfactorio como este. Ya no pesa las horas de trabajo, ni las dificultades encontradas en su proceso. Al final la recompensa es encontrar que todo ha salido perfecto.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteDe hecho, con trabajo duro y perseverancia llegas al final y te da una enorme satisfacción!
Abrazos,
Mariette
You live in paradise. It must be a very calm and relaxed place. Wonderful
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteWell, it is a lot of hard work but the satisfaction and the beauty that you derive from all your input is at times indeed like paradise.
Relaxing for the soul and our kitties love living here!
Hugs,
Mariette