Backyard transformation

Certainly a long process to rehabilitate land that has been overrun but just beginning the project has enlivened me! Macheted a whole bunch of blackberry in Feb... some is growing back, but more of the big brambles are down, raked into piles, and ready for burning. Kevin came by some weeks back and we burned quite a bit of material. And now it is all clear for the native plant re-habitat-ing that is happening!

We planted 10 Oceanspray, 10 Red-flowering Currant, some Western Hemlock and Redcedar trees as well. More piled are raked and ready for burning and so on. But we have 10 Vine Maple in the ground too, and an established Salmonberry and Twinberry already leafing out and doing great work. We acquired (for free) Oregon Grape, more Salmonberry, Ninebark, and Indian Plum as well with the hopes of getting some more of those too!

Feels good to work the land... not for the pioneer spirit of making a life for the homestead and the human family, but for the restoring the Land: Rufous hummingbirds who are mating, the frogs who are eating the mosquitoes (who bit me up this evening!), cleaner waterways, and the various other inhabitants of the 1/4 acre.

 The front side yard need a lot of work... maybe next year.

 So many plants planted. So much blackberry (and roots!) removed.

 Baby Western Redcedar is shorter than my boot :)

 Ready for rehabilitation!

Cleared out patch for Vine Maple to hopefully take hold.