Around the yard as fall approaches

     I was working in the yard yesterday and took the following photos - the plums, pears and apples are ripening.

Mom and Dad had a great garden this summer!

     Above to the left: Five blue spruce trees we planted on July 8th, 2011 to mark Mom and Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Below: here they are planting them - they're growing!!

Sunflowers are starting to open!

Today was a beautiful warm/hot summers day with little breeze!

Above/Below: a hearty rose bush Arnold gave Mom following a serious illness in the spring of 2007 - it's hearty like Mom!

     Below: a whirligig made by folk art brother Kerras.

     Below: the window boxes did well this summer - we planted miniature dalhias on each end with marigolds and pansies in betwee.

Below: the fruit trees are producing well.

Below: the new flower bed survived the warm dry summer!

Below: a plant called "Strawberry Sundae" - disregard the weeds :-D)

     Below: the birch tree is big - Kerras and Dad planted it 35 years ago - they dug it up as a seedling from the back woods.

     Mom and Dad planted these six maples in 2005 - they've done well, especially the first one on the right as it's near the septic field tile and its roots gets lots of moisture below.

     Above to the left: there's the little spruce tree planted in 2011 for our first-great child Ciara Jane Pitre, born on June 15, 2010.  It's a beautifully shaped spruce tree - it was very tiny the first couple of years but its starting to grow.  Here it is again below.

Below: Kerras folk art pig still watches guard over the place!

     Below:  on Sunday August 18th we planted two more trees for family members at the Homestead - first an "Empress Tree" in honour of our Grandmother, Empress (MacNevin) McDowell who will turn 94 on September 6th.   

     Also we planted a "Canoewood Tree" (aka. liriodendron/tulip tree) for our 2nd great-grandchild Charlie Christopher Clements born on April 24, 2012.   Here he is below.

     Both these trees are flowering and will grow fast and large to 60' high and 60' wide.  We still have to plant a tree for our 3rd great-grandchild Emma Christine Olive Pitre born August 16, 2012.