Spring is in the process of sprung-ing here in Richmond and we’re boiling over with excitement. Warm weather? Yes please. Green trees? Bring it. Flowers blooming? Duh, winning.
So to those of you who aren’t on the brink of spring yet, we thought we’d send a virtual dose of the season – courtesy of some photos of what’s starting to happen around here – like the little buds that are showing up on the hydrangeas that we’ve inherited.
Spring is especially exciting this year because we get to be surprised by whatever magically decides to pop up around the new house – and we finally get to see what our property looks like in all it’s bloomin’ glory. The daffodils are already on blast. Holla.
Oh and for those who don’t recognize the house above, it’s the back of ours. It’s definitely different than the original brick ranch facade in the front, right? We think it’s really funny that the addition was only built about 10 years later (in the 70’s instead of the 60’s) but it has such a different vibe. Someday we hope to unify things. Not sure how yet, but maybe it’ll come to me in a dream. Sidenote #1: I once had a dream about tiling our old shower surround with white subway tile about a year before actually deciding to embark on that adventure (and to use white subway tile).
But back to the weather. Even Burger is itching to get outside and kick off what will be many months of bug hunting in a new backyard. Here he is gazing longingly out the living room window. Sidenote #2: This shot of the bushes makes Sherry twitchy because she wants to trim them like crazy.
As for the temp, the daily highs around here have been wavering between the mid-50s and the high-60s, even stretching into the 70’s a couple of weeks back. And that means yard work is quickly creeping to the top of our to-do list (especially since we got started a few weeks back). Which reminds us, we owe you a more official “tour” of the exterior of our house. So put that in your “stay tuned” folder.
The only bummer that spring has sprung on us has to do with the tree in the front of the house. It has grown (or was planted?) crazy close to the foundation…
… and stretches up the side of the porch, sort of feathering out over the walkway to the front door. We’ve always known it probably has to go (aka we should take it out before it takes out any of the house). But it’s charming, darn it.
Especially covered in white blooms. See them below? Sidenote #3: I just typed “see them blow?” which was oddly entertaining to me (I dunno, kinda like “thar she blows”), so I stopped writing this post and told Sherry about it. She only found it marginally funny. Maybe it was a you-had-to-be-there thing.
Anyway, don’t those white flowers in the picture above (not blow) make you love it? Maybe white flowers are the tree equivalent to sad puppy dog eyes. Seems like a shame to remove that sweet little tree now. Especially since we don’t think we can save him since he’s basically on top of the house (so we anticipate a crazy root situation when we start digging). Oh and while we’re on the subject of said tree, does anyone know what it is? We have no idea.
Despite our little tree drama, we’re ready to enjoy spring to the fullest (holy buckets, it’ll be Clara’s first birthday before we know it). I wonder how good she’d be at mulching. Hmm…
Is anyone else getting a good dose of spring fever yet? Are temperatures up and flowers out in you area? Who’s shoveling snow today?
Kim says
Not fair. We are getting more snow today! So ready for spring flowers.
karen @ our slo house says
I have such spring fever. Unfortunately, I can’t do any yardwork, landscaping, gardening, etc. until the renovation is actually done. I’ve learned the hard way.
p.s. We’re under a Tsunami warning right now!! I heard that Charlie peed in the ocean, and his tigerblood is the cause of all this ruckus.
Abbey says
Hey Youngsters, I still don’t feel like we are getting a good lay of the land. I know you have mentioned before the lot is not as big in the back as your previous house, but when you step out from the sun room what does your backyard look like? Same for the front yard when you open the front door? Any plans for a Clara friendly play area?
YoungHouseLove says
Check out our House Tour tab for a few more exterior shots. We definitely need to post more soon (now that the snow is gone). This lot is as big as our last one (almost an acre) it’s just more square (the last one was long and narrow) and it’s pretty flat so there are lots of places for Clara to play. Oh and when you step out of the sunroom there’s the patio with a big garden and then just a big lot behind that. Pics soon!
xo,
s
Katie says
3 inches of snow last night. I think I need a house plant! :)
J'Ann says
Congrats! hehe
Its been raining buckets in Toronto all week, I guess that means I should be seeing blooms soon?
Happy Friday!
Confessions of a Purse-a-holic
Amanda says
That’s a very pretty tree and it’s kind of a shame to remove it, but it’s definitely too close to the house. I almost wonder if it was an accident that it ended up that close.
When I was about 8, I was really into the Little House books and decided to “prepare” for winter by gathering seeds and whatnot (I lived in the country, so entertainment was limited). My storage spot was a corner where the porch met the house. A couple of years passed and this tiny fern appeared. The next year, we realized the fern wasn’t a fern, but a mimosa tree and I suddenly remembered my storage spot.
We spent the next 7 years trying to get rid of this tree, but it kept coming back. By the time I graduated from high school, it was taller than our house and was uprooting our front steps.
Brenda says
The tree is beautiful and your spring is lovely. We just came out of a deep freeze. -15 F last week so I am still waiting in small town Alberta.
Liz says
John, you definitely have one thing in common with Charlie… you live with 2 goddesses :)
YoungHouseLove says
Sure do. And a little divo (male diva?) pooch too. I’m a lucky man.
-John
Erika @ Blonde Moments In The Burbs says
The daffodil and tulip bulbs are poking through the dirt at our house…can’t wait for them to bloom. Bring on Spring!
Gaidig says
Looks like a camellia to me. I’ve had two types of magnolias and two types of camellias, and it’s definitely the latter. Might as well try moving it. The worst that can happen is that it dies. Wait at least until fall. It looks like a much younger plant than the ones we had at my old house, and it seems pretty vertical. I would bet that if you dig outside of the drip line first, you could wedge it off of the house and get it out of there with the root ball pretty much in tact. Maybe with some professional help.
banclothing says
My husband and I fell in love with a house but the inspection revealed a tree in the front yard had grown into the foundation… the estimated cost to fix the damage was $60, 000!!!!! Although a wonderful location we had to pass.
I would remove your tree ASAP. I know it’s nice but it’s not $60, 000 nice.
Kaitlyn says
It’s a daisy!
(Does anyone else read cakewrecks.com? No? Well…never mind…its a Camilla)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha. Love it.
xo,
s
Nancy says
It looks like a deciduous magnolia. They are typically planted close to houses like yours is and have a lovely, but strong aroma. I’ve always wanted to plant one.
erika m says
I did not want to read this post…I am staring out the window at 6+ inches snow dumped fresh last night…grrr…off to get my shovel while dreaming of daffodils and white bloomy trees in RVA…thanks alot…haha!
Kim says
It looks something like the mock orange tree I have right next to my own front porch…
Jennifer says
That tree looks like a Camellia, although they do often look much fuller, probably looks weird because of the placement to the house.
Rachel says
I’m an only child and grew up on 2.5 acres with parents who LOVE yardwork. I feel for Clara and her future weekend afternoons and summer days (picking up sticks, pulling weeds, etc).
Debbie Koessler says
It;s like mother nature is doing a big wet raspberry on us. Sideways slap in the face snow/sleet. Your pictures make me happy.
Lissa says
Your “tree” looks like my over grown camellias did when I moved into my house a few years ago. I chopped the hell out of them and they’re doing great. So maybe yours can be saved too.
Don’t want to make anyone jealous but it’s been in the 80s the past few days here in SoCal.
Adriane says
Here in north Florida it was in the 80s last week but tonight the low is in the 30s and everyone’s in gloves and parkas (even though it’s 50 now and the high tomorrow is 72…ahhh Florida). We ripped out a bunch of leggy unknown plants we inherited and planted some beautiful new hedges last weekend. Now my to-do list is down to watering like crazy.
Shanoah says
My husband and I also purchased a house with a tree that needs to be removed this spring. It looks nice from the sidewalk, but it’s really close to the garage and has roots that are creeping too close to the cold cellar. As for the weather, it’s rainy, cold and generally gross here in Toronto. C’mon spring!
Brandy says
Spring started here in Savannah Ga a few weeks back. All the pear trees were a go, followed by the cherry and now the dogwoods! My peach also bloomed! (I bought it in bloom for my front yard!) I love some spring! (Also just planted some Nikko Blue Hydrangeas!) :)
Michelle says
Root prune it. At the end of the season when it’s gone dormant, use a shovel and jab straight into the ground around the tree. Wait 30 days… then dig it up and move it.
Ah heck, this will explain better:
http://www.moultrienews.com/column/-20HORTIOCTOBER-
rebecca says
Looks like a camellia.
Meaghan says
I do see signs of spring ahhhhh, but no signs of a yard as big and beautiful as yours! Hard to come by property like that out here in CA. :)
Shea says
I’m 99% sure it’s a Camellia (there are LOTS of varities) and they usually start out in more of a bush form, which is probably why it is planted so close to the house. It may be original to the house it it looks more like a tree because it’s been reaching for light for so long. This is not a magnolia. I do know that for sure :)
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=white+camellias&qpvt=white+camellias&FORM=Z7FD
Good luck!
Katie says
I agree that it looks like a camellia, likely pruned into a more standard shape. It would be such a shame to cut it down, though I definitley agree that it can’t stay where it is. Please try to relocate it!
There’s a great conversation about transplanting a camellia here: http://www.au.gardenweb.com/forums/load/trees/msg052305118481.html
Ruth says
Maybe you could start a few new trees from the old guy and see if they will grow? I checked and camellias have a “moderate to high” expectation of success from rooting cuttings. There’s a nifty trick called “air-layering” where you basically strip away a bit of bark on a branch and then surround the area with dirt-in-a-bag – it grows roots there up in the air and then you cut it off and plant it!
Julie says
I was just going to say that it’s so fun to be in a “new” house for spring to see what surprises await, but you beat me to it! I’m loving it! We have a TON of work ahead of us and I can’t wait to get started digging things up to plant some things that are more “us” and to plant some grass so our girls have a bigger area to play. We actually tried to host a little “plant party” like you did at your old house, but not much success with turnout. (Of course, we didn’t put it on Craigslist – that just makes us way too nervous!)
Anne G. says
Thanks for the spring photos! It will be another few months before we start seeing buds on the trees here in Alaska. But, we have had a week of sunshine and warm temperatures, and since there’s still plenty of snow on the ground that means awesome spring skiing! I used to live in DC, and really miss all the blooming plants this time of year. But, I have to tell you that after a long, dark, cold winter in Alaska, there is nothing like spring here. Our days get longer and longer, and it is amazing to watch everything wake up from a long winter rest — the rivers bubble to life under the melting ice, the animals start to come out and you see their tracks in the snow…. In fact, I heard a woman at the gym last night say that she saw a bear running across the road. When the bears come out of hibernation, that’s a true sign that spring has arrived!
Shawnette says
You make me want to move! Having such a severe case of Spring fever here in MN. Looking out at all of my snow covered flowerbeds, 37 degree weather, and hearing word of more snow and 40mph winds tonight.
Love seeing your flowers and green leaves – smell the blossoms extra for us, please?
kristin says
ai for shoveling snow (er my husband b/c at 5.5m preg i’m opting out… even though we have a snow thrower). we were SO close… i have some flowers that started sprouting out of the ground last week. the mailman said it incubates them, so i’m hopeful.
and totally not going to complain about another dump of snow when a huge part of the world has been totally displaced by weather phenomenons.
Robin @ 3 acres & 3,000 sf says
Sorry to say but you are right that tree is way too close to the house. Homes typically have concrete block foundations in your area right? Roots around block walls are not good. The tree isn’t big enough to do damage yet but it will be eventually. Instead of cutting it down you could consider moving it. You’ll have to dig by hand that close to the wall and it will be a lot of effort but it’s worth it if you love it.
Then when you have the area all dug up you can plant some low maintance dwarf conifers in it’s place. I just created our front flower beds with dwarf conifers last year and they are my favorite! They look good all year round even with snow on them and because they are slow growing you don’t need to prune them or worry that they will take over the flower bed. You can see the shade loving ones I planted here:
http://threeacres.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/dwarf-conifers-for-the-shade/
Nadine says
Looks like Camelia to me. I saw a post on growingwisdom.com about a firm who specialize in moving trees (even big ones). Maybe they’d have some good advice to offer.
Lindsey White says
There’s still snow on the ground in Anchorage, but its SUNNY and 24 degrees never felt soooo good!!! And we didn’t get hit with a tsunami!!
I’m going with a Camellia tree as well…so cute!
Happy Friday you guys!
D says
Hydrangeas?! Jealous…
Kate says
No shoveling today, but we had about 5 inches a couple nights ago. Luckily today it’s up to a balmy 40 degrees. Hmmm, maybe Wisconsin wasn’t the best choice of location…
leah says
Finally warming up here in Colorado too. I am soooo ready to be outside.
That is a lovely little tree. What a shame. I wonder if you could transplant it somehow?
Can’t wait to see what your new house looks like all springy and green!
Monika says
I’m jealous of your beautiful weather. It is around 14 degrees here in Canada and thanks to a much needed chinook, I have a warmer weekend ahead. It still won’t be comparable to your 50 degrees, but it’s a much needed break from the -31 degree weather we were having just over a week ago.
How very stereotypically Canadian of me, we love to talk about the weather…
The tree near the house is beautiful, perhaps you could plant a new one in a better location? I really like the white flowers. Any plans for a vegetable garden this year?
Enjoy the weekend!
Monika
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! I’d love to at least get some tomatoes and herbs in this year! Details when we get to that!
xo,
s
laxsupermom says
Your blooms are lovely! I can’t wait for the snow to melt! Check that. I hope it takes it’s sweet ole time to melt so we don’t end up with a flooded garage and basement again.
I agree that it’s a camellia. You might be able to move it away from the house in the autumn.
Elizabeth of Clementine & Clover Events says
Making me miss the springtime in northern California. There are no seasons here in Orange County boo hoo!
Wendy says
It’s a white camellia.
Katy M says
That’s a camelia! Don’t get rid of it! And it looks like a pretty healthy one too. I would check with an expert but it may not grow much taller than it already is.
Ali Miller says
Any chance of saving the tree with a transplant to a slightly further from the house location?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s the goal for sure! We’ll keep you guys posted!
xo,
s
Leanne says
Put those butter cups in some foodcoloring/ water!
I used to love to do that as a kid;)
Lovely here in GA.. raining a bit but that makes the flowers bloom! I inherited hydrangeas too! I live in my grandparents old house so i have all of their bushes and trees that i grew up with still around.
p.s. I love the way burger get’s that squashy look when he’s all comfy in the window.. my boston terrier does that too!
Jennifer says
Still snowy here in Wisconsin, but this post gives me hope! :)
sarah says
thank you for that glimpse of spring! it’s much needed for me here in michigan. we haven’t seen the sun in several days and got another 2 inches of snow last night!
John says
Have a nice 10 foot tall flowering pink Camellia on the east side of my house in Richmond, they prefer morning sun.
Richmond is so pretty in the Spring.
Carolyn says
Wish it was spring here. Sadly we are still snow covered in Minnesota, but I think we’ve finally seen the last of it come down. Now it just needs to melt. Come on 40 degrees … you can do it!
Diane says
Maybe you could hire a tree service to relocate the tree to a better spot on your property?
It doesn’t seem too big to be moved.