I love the full look without appearing to be overcrowded that you've maintained over the years.

What a gorgeous garden! It sure is a labor of love! I think I can make out in the back buckthorn trees/bushes. I have those also and it’s so hard to get rid of them and even dig a hole to add a Hosta. The older I get the more I do appreciate nature and I see things with different eyes but my body doesn’t work the same anymore. After a half a day of garden work by back is hurting and I need an Aleve to sleep.

amazing what happens over such a long time frame! You are so lucky you have all these pictures to look at.

Beautiful garden, now and then. Don't they say things get better with age?

Is the "slow grower" Great Expectations? It's lovely.

arcy..I can relate..aren't you happy that you can now enjoy the fruits of your labor from when you were younger?..that's how I look at it..if some plants disappear so be it..I'm still satisfied..

popmama I can't remember what the slow grower is!! I remember back when the first pic was taken a few here thought I best just forget it and toss it out. Once upon a time I knew their names and they all had tags and I had a map of what was where but then I started rearranging and things got complicated. I could dig out that original three ring binder....but I probably won't!! LOL Claudia yes buckthorn is a HUGE invasive in the area where we live. Originally we thinned and cut out any sapling or weed that was smaller than my husband's fore arm. We were attempting to get air flow through our lawn--the mosquitoes would carry the kids away!! To combat weeds I made gardens. Now I walk the gardens a few times a week, pulling saplings out by their roots and also any weeds that are robbing the hosta of water. I do think it would not take more than two years for the trees to reclaim their territory. Cottonwood/Quacking aspen/Burr oak as well as the buck thorn and others leave all sorts of seeds for me to fight.

Arcy, I know all about rearranging, tags and maps...love peaceful full look you created. Are you saying there will be time when one can just get into garden and sit in a hammock?

Time to sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Arcy, I wouldn't pull up the Burr oak seedlings, at least not all of them, they are quality shade trees, not like the other trees, you can garden (in shade) under Burr oaks, just my 2 cents. Your pics show a very nice shade garden btw.