Funny how the mind works. How memory works. Some images are burned into my memory, lovingly cherished or sadly remembered. Then there are the memories easily supplanted with new ones to take their place.... 

A New Red Oak Tree 

has surprisingly made the thoughts of losing two big old oak trees easier to bear.  

Natural Landscape With Daffodils

Creating a natural French country setting surrounding a house in the countryside 

takes some deliberate thought about how to achieve that style.

Part of the reason we built a house on two acres outside any city limits 

was to have a yard that was natural and environmentally friendly. 

We wanted a yard that required 1] as little as possible supplementary watering, 

2] no pesticides, and 3] minimal fertilization.