Spring Again - in November

UPDATE:  make that summer again.  It is now 77 degrees F outside.  Ridiculous.

Michigan's weather has always been a little crazy.  There have been years when we have already had snow.  Like this year when snow flakes fell a few weeks ago.  Now, spring has returned.  My friend even has daisies blooming in her garden, though I cut everything down weeks ago.

A week ago I had two spruce trees cut down.  They were both planted in 1973 and have always struggled.  My suspicion is that the landscape company never removed the burlap bags around the roots.  That sure would explain why when I dug around the stumps I found no roots - after 47 years. Both trees had had several dead branches removed, needle cast disease was present and they were not really attractive.  Years of having them sprayed and even injected were to no avail.  So, off with their heads and everything else.  Here are some photos.

Looking out at the street - before

Looking toward the house - before.  I had decided that they added nothing positive to the landscape.

Downfall.  The big blue spruce lying in the street.

Gone.  I had not realized the size of the trunk until the tree was cut down.

This tree, which was growing on one side and had new growth along the trunk as a result of injections, gets ready to fall.

And down.

The view from the street now.  Neighbors said my yard looks huge.  Well, it is a large yard, but the evergreens masked the true size.

I moved a few things around and we will see what everything looks like come the real spring next year.  For now, I have more leaves to clean up and for once, I have decent weather in which to accomplish the fall tasks at hand.