Yarden Evolutions: Under the Pine Tree

You are cordialy invited to a history tour of what's been going on for 17 years under the large pine tree in our front yard. Be like Theresa, sit back, and enjoy...

Did you notice the first relaxing thing? I didn't for the first few years, then Theresa let me know how to get rid of a weekly chore. If you leave the pine needles where they fall on the ground, you don't have to mow, ever. Just sweep the pine needles off the sidewalks and back under the tree, easy. Exceptionally great news for me. I'm 6' 4" and the pine doesn't have 6 feet of clearance under its branches, so mowing sucked.

The next cool thing is: we decided to do front yard artwork in 2005 or 2006. You can see three stumps and some rocks behind the bench. That is StumpHenge. Here is a close up pic below, where you can see the stumps and how the rocks and crystals (which we got at a geologist's garage sale) were placed around them...

Stumphenge had a good run but we knew it wouldn't last forever. (It's not built with rocks like its namesake, Stonehenge). The pic below is from 2015, where you can see Mother Nature has taken her due. That's OK. Stumphenge was art that was meant to provide wildlife habitat while it lasted (chipmunks like to sit on them, beetles bore into them, butterflies rest under the loose bark) and then soil nourishment as it decayed.

For a couple years (2015 - 2018) the pine tree provided good storage for our shitaki mushroom logs. It created plenty of year round shade to protect our $80 investment. The logs were from a commercial grower who was going out of business. It was a great investment. We got at least 5 to 10 lbs of shrooms each year for 5 years. 

The next big project was in 2010. We decided to try a rock garden under the pine tree. It's a tricky space because it's dry and shady under the pine, but Theresa figured it was sunny enough along the edge to try plants that like partial sun. We are almost done with creating and planting it in the pic below.

Here (below) is the rock garden two years later and we noticed a few things about the pine tree area:

• The pine needles still makes a nice ground carpet.
  
• The bench we put around the pine tree needed to go soon so the tree could keep growing.
• The garden didn't maintain its initial neat appearance, but still had its cool (at least in our opinions)....
  

• ... We noticed my favorite thing a few years ago. The stonecrop sedum we planted under the pine became a feeding hot spot for bumble bees in September and October (depending on temps). In its small area I have counted over 20 bumble bees and friends on this one group of plants (pictured below).
  

Here is a better picture of 4 bumbles and a drinking buddy on the sedum plant:

The last project in this area was in 2018. We finally got a free little library in the front yard, where people could take our books or leave theirs. We even had a place to sit if you wanted to rest and read a while. The library is gone now- it wasn't used as much as we thought it would be. We put a bench there instead of the chairs for when we want to watch sunsets. See the standing rock to the left of the chairs? It is formed from stones from different geological eras. It also weighs over 500 lbs. It's staying there, no matter what projects we decide to pursue in the future. Just sayen. 

I'm guessing if you got this far you liked the historical tour, so thanks. Next up... who knows? Oh crud, that's my job ain't it?

Type at ya later, 
​Bear