“You wonder after many years if any of it was worth the bother. The answer is, I think, more or less yes .... Entire sections of the garden have to be rethought and old friends given up. All seems to be nothing but change and irregular advances and collapse, as if paying little attention to the gardener, who is seen to be far less consequential than we supposed.”
"The Essential Earthman"
Henry Mitchell 1923-1993
. . .
Our street is scheduled for a major rehab this summer. The original 1950s sanitary and storm sewers will be replaced, a shared pedestrian/bike lane will be added, most on street parking eliminated and the street resurfaced. This means the traffic islands will be removed, some curbs will be replaced and my front garden will be dug up to put in the water lines and update the fire hydrant on our property.
Over the years, I've spent a lot of time and money gardening on this little island. It's the sunniest spot I have and has rocky soil perfect for bulbs.
Currently it has Tulips, Allium 'Summer Beauty', the famed Geranium 'Rozanne' and four big Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta. As soon as the plants come up this spring I will dig them out and move them to new homes elsewhere in the garden. Construction is slated to start in June and go all summer, seven days a week.
The city owns the first 14' of our property as we have no sidewalks or "hell strips." So I intentionally filled this area with plants I could afford to lose or that could be easily moved. Geranium macrorrhizum is a forgiving plant and should cover the construction quickly once I can replant.
The most important point is the city will not have to remove the Oak tree that abuts the street at the end of our driveway. If they have to replace the gutter, they will hand-form it to protect the tree. This tree was here when the house was built in 1954 and for many years before that. (Don Smith, the original owner, with one of his daugthers and the oak tree.)
When we moved here in 1994, arborist and local tree historian Bruce Allison estimated the tree's age as at least 125 years old. It's our treasure and we are thrilled that we finally have a group of seedlings that will eventually create an oak grove that will be long after the road project is history.
Thank goodness the oak will survive!! I'm sorry you're losing your sunny island. Sounds like it might be a summer for you to stay in the back yard and for Mark to enjoy watching the process in the front.
Posted by: Kristin | Monday, February 14, 2022 at 08:03 AM
Those are big changes! The island plants look so happy but I know you will find good homes for them. So smart of you to plan ahead so many years ago. It sounds like your street may become busier with traffic too. Glad the tree is being acknowledged and hope no inadvertent harm is done during the process.
Posted by: Barbara H. | Monday, February 14, 2022 at 08:59 AM
KRISTIN — You've hit the nail on the head. I will definitely be gardening out back ignoring the street and Mark thinks he may make the street work his next photo project!
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, February 14, 2022 at 09:27 AM
BARBARA — I am glad Mark took into consideration what the city controlled and what was ours when he designed the garden. Otherwise I would be really upset. Given the rain "events" that are more common these days, I am very happy to get new storm sewers. They are putting in a "100 year flood" pipe.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, February 14, 2022 at 09:29 AM
Although I accept the premise of your post's title, I expect I'd be very unhappy about being forced to move those lovely plants. At least the city gave you plenty of advance notice. It's wonderful that they've also got a plan to work around the oak. Here, trees are too often felled with little thought.
Posted by: Kris P | Monday, February 14, 2022 at 12:35 PM
KRIS Because this neighborhood was a 1950s suburb, it never had sidewalks and thus has big old trees by the street. So they are removing parking lanes to create a pedestrian/bike lane without having to remove more than a couple of trees. The city has always pushed solutions for bikes and pedestrians over cars. You haven't lived until you've seen people riding bicycles in the snow, which is common here.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, February 14, 2022 at 01:03 PM
Seven days a week! I guess once they start it's best to keep working to get done, but wow. Hoping for as little disruption as possible for you.
Posted by: danger garden | Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 11:31 AM
Wow, major changes ahead. But it sounds like the best possible scenario, if it had to happen. As others have mentioned, you planned ahead for the 14ft easement, you were given plenty of advance notice about the work, and your mature oak will be preserved.
Posted by: Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening | Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 08:58 PM
KATHY — I am not a gardener who listens to books or music on headphones when I work in the garden. So I am hoping the noise isn't overwhelming when one is out of doors. And I'm hoping the street is still usable to have friends over without too much confusion.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 07:31 AM