Backtracking through the work week, we have done some interesting and satisfactory pruning at an old and new job.
As so often happens, at Raymond Federal Bank some mugho pines…not planted by us!…had encroached well over the sidewalk boundaries, along with shrubs in the drive-through and another shrubby pine which was blocking the sight lines from the front door…always important to keep open sight lines at a bank! Yesterday, we began the pruning job but were thoroughly rained out after only two hours, so we continued today. Oops, there went our day off this week.
Meanwhile, we have taken on a tremendously exciting new regular job at acomplex of Japanese style house on the bay…house, guest house and garage joined by a heartbreakingly beautiful covered breezeway, all tiled with blue Japanese ceramic tile….a paradise built by Bill Clearman in 1987. The garden is, fittingly, Asian in style, so detailed weeding and especially pruning are required to return it to its former perfection.
After touring the gardens with Bill and the owners last Saturday while Allan was off on a motorcycle camping trip, I was burning to begin realizing our plans. On day one, I spent hours pruning a low cloud planting of small azaleas…detwigging and rounding the tops to a curvacious form, while Allan brought back into view a garden of variegated Euonymous.
I’m so looking forward to returning this week and weeding some more and pruning some blueberries and lilacs, while Allan prunes a holly back into a domed shape. (Why is he not looking forward to his project as much? Ouch! But I did get him some good rose gauntlets last Christmas.) Also, we have a nice pile of good soil with which to fluff up the garden beds.
[2012 note: In 2011 we amicably quit the Raymond Federal Bank job and passed it on to our friend Ed Strange because of the Great Revelation of June 2007. (Management had changed and no longer loved plants.)
As of February 2012, the house with the blue tiled roof is for sale.]
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