Remember the nice views

OK, so I still have some work to do behind the maple in the back yard.  Behind the alstromaria I found other monsters lurking, including a miniature version of the dreaded convolvulus. But some parts of the garden are doing things that I like. On the fence between us and the hospital, where the honeysuckle was starting to look a little pooped, the clematis jackmanii is coming into bloom. Ain't it grand, with the hebe (sp?) accompanying it below?

Routing the alstromaria

But they're so pretty!

Yanked out quite a lot yesterday, but you can see (below) that there is still more to go.  Nonetheless, the maple's trunk is emerging.

There's another clump of perennial to the left that might need thinning as well.  I can't remember what it is. Here's a closer shot (with roses behind): 

What is it? Enquiring minds want to know:

Should I chop the arm off the acer?

Here is the lovely, sculptural pruning job Mum did on one of the japanese maples during her "spring-training" in 2007:

That lowest branch on the left-hand side balances the shape of the tree, and looks very pretty against the bare ground behind. In the summer, though, with leaves, it blocks the rose bushes and other interesting tall plants back against the fence.  (As seen from the back step, at least - the most common view point.)  Here is a photo I took today (hmm, may need to get an evening shot for better light):

It may be that I simply need to haul out those clumps of tall things immediately behind, so the maple branch screens only the roses and tall stuff right at the back by the fence.  But quite a few days this summer I've been tempted to go out and chop off the maple branch.  I think I will start by hauling out the alstromaria, and then take another photo this evening or tomorrow.

When I figure out how to get the file size down from 49M, I'll post a video I made on Canada Day last year, that shows the same section of the jardin, and a little bit of Ozzie, too. Here's a still from it.  Oz loves the catmint, and the purple flowers do look pretty against his tuxedo.

Welcome

Almost every day, as I step out the back door and head off to work, I see something new or different in the garden and think, "I should get a picture of that for Mum".  Or for me, so I'll remember three months from now what was blooming where.  Sometimes I'm able to convince the geek to take some spectacular documentary shots. Let's see if I can actually get into the habit of collecting and posting these images.

To start with, here's Harriet in the jardin sometime in the spring of 2005, I think.

Doesn't she just look so intelligent and alert?  Here's what she hasn't noticed: