July 11, 2012

Slow Living, Slow Results

Three years ago this month we planted a privacy hedge of Leyland Cypresses along the road.

Hedge of little Leyland Cypress trees
Photo take July 2009

Here it is today....

Photo taken July 2012

It seemed to take forever to grow, but what a difference three years actually makes.

21 comments:

Tami said...

Wow...I remember you posting about that. What shocks me isn't how fast them suckers can grow, I'm shocked that it's been 3 years that I've been following you.

Seems like yesterday...

Farmer Barb said...

And then, one day, you will say--"Why is this yard so DARK?" as you stand in the shadow of the wind break that YOU set out.

The thought of digging all those holes!!! I would have a stone retaining wall the whole length of that because it would yield THAT many rocks!!!

Long lines of fencing make me weepy. Especially after chasing my goofy dog yesterday. He saw a buck...

Lisa B. said...

They look beautiful. We planted six Thuja Green Giants along our road and we have lost 4 of them in the last year due to the drought. I was wanting to replace them with another fast growing and will check into the Leyland.

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

I have always wanted to plant something like that along my road. Even though I live far away from the road, it is amazing to me how many people notice when when I have something new or change something. Makes you wonder if they drive by with binoculars ;)

Mama Pea said...

How soon we forget what something looked like before. The power of pictures! One of the greatest advantages of taking the time to keep a blog . . . looking back and remembering what we've accomplished. (No wonder we feel tired now and then!)

Benita said...

Are you going to have to top them once the reach the power lines?

I envy you the break, though. We need to plant more on our northside.

Woolly Bits said...

that happens to me every time I look at old photos of our garden! it was bare, when I came here - and now you're hard put to find space for even just a shrub:) but I have to admit that we got rid of all the leylandii - they grow fast at first, but then they start to go bare and ugly from the bottom - and they do nothing in ways of food for either us or animals. we replaced them with mixed hedges, which provide shelter as well as berries and habitats for animals, even though they take a bit longer to grow. I hope you won't regret to plant them - but on the other hand, gardening mistakes are usually fairly easily rectified and at least you could use them for heating:)

Florida Farm Girl said...

Those cypress are coming along nicely!! Give them another couple of years and you won't be able to see that house at all.

You have accomplished so much since I began following along. You and Dan should take pride in all your hard work.

Angela said...

Beautiful. It didn't take too long for all that growth.

I've learned that slow is really a matter of perspective.

Bridget said...

These grow really fast, be sure they don't get out of hand.

Donna OShaughnessy said...

Great foresight and planning on your part! After 17 years on our farm I am often shocked at the changes so why do I always want to make MORE?!?

Lynda said...

Wow! Really looks great! We have a fence line of oleanders. HUGE oleanders.

DFW said...

Nice job. They look great. I too would dread digging all those holes in our hard as rock, clay soil. But well worth it in the long run.

Sue said...

Looking good! Reminds me that I need to plant more around here.

Renee Nefe said...

looks great!

Just the other day my daughter was commenting on how much our trees have all grown. I said "and you were this big when we moved in here." with my hand indicating her height at 3 & 1/2 years old. She was pretty shocked about that as well.

Time sure flies!

Nina said...

It's amazing what difference 3 years can make! How big will these trees mature? We had some mature trees under the hydro lines. The electrical company came by and did line corridor upkeep, by either taking down whole trees or lopping off the top half of some or big chunks of whole sides of others.. they look so odd now.

Unknown said...

The hedge looks great. Time slides by quickly and i too try to capture before and after shots too, wonderful comparison! I just got caught up on the last few posts and bot have you been busy. Congrats on the new additions. I've heard great things about the Nigerian Pygmies and i know you're enjoying the milk haha. Good luck with the chick too :)

Sherri B. said...

I see a good bit of growth. In the first photo you can see everything across the street and now, the only thing you can see is a bit of the house. Next year at this time, I predict there will be a big difference and before you know it you will be telling us that you had to trim them because of the wires. xo

A Wild Thing said...

I keep planting tree rows of Western cedar, they grow fast, but never fast enough when trying to hide away!

DebbieB said...

Looks great, Leigh! I'm also amazed at how quickly time passes. A blink of the eye!

Cathy said...

Wow - amazing the difference in 3 yrs!

And I love the baby chick and the new goats - always something fun to check out.