Backyard Trees

Over the past year or so - I've done a lot of research and thinking about the trees I wanted to put in our backyard. I work with quite a few certified arborists at my job - so I was able to gather a lot of information from them. I must have changed my mind more than a dozen times with what I would put where - and made a few last minute changes to the plan just as we were getting ready to plant - but I'm pleased with the results. I thought I would put some pictures of the trees on this blog and then wait a year or so and update the photos so we could see how much they have grown. (The trees and the boys)Texas Moutain Laurel. I planted 3 of these trees near our AC units. They look like small shrubs now - but will eventually be a 15 foot tall multi-trunk tree. They are evergreen and have flowers that bloom in the spring that smell like grape Kool-Aid.

Bottle Tree. This tree is also evergreen and will get quite tall (30-40 feet). It keeps a pyramid shade (kind of like a pine tree) and will provide some privacy screen from our next door neighbors deck.

Angel Red Pomegranate. I always knew I wanted to plant a pomegranate tree in my backyard. We had them in my backyard growing up and I loved to pick and eat pomegranates each fall. When it came time to plant - I did a bit of research and discovered there was a relatively new hybrid called "Angel Red" that grew a bit smaller than other varieties - but produced larger, juicier fruit than others. The best part is the seed has much less fibrious material in it so it makes the seeds softer and easier to eat. The challenge was getting the plant, as none of the local nurseries had it. It took a few emails and phone conversations to put the grower in Georgia in touch with our local nursery and have one shipped. When it arrived it was only a 2 gallon size - so I'll just have to be patient and wait for it to grow.

Olive Tree. I really wanted to plant an olive tree in our planter at our other house - but settled for an African Sumac because of the cost. This time around - I knew I wanted an olive tree to go into the corner of our yard. This was the one tree that I knew exactly what I wanted and where it would go from the very beginning - and I never changed my mind about it.

Nellie Steven's Hollie. This was a last minute change in plans after Kim and I decided not to put a tree in the lawn area as I had been planning. I went to the nursery and wanted an evergreen tree that would stay fairly narrow - while growing tall enough to provide some shade in the backyard. This holly tree exacty what I was looking for. I believe it will grow pretty fast as it is already developing new shoots. I gets pretty white flowers in the spring and red berries in the winter.

Mastic Tree. This is probably the ugliest tree we planted but the one I like the best. It is actual an evergreen pistache and has an awkward looking branch pattern - but I believe in time (and with some careful pruning) will look really neat. It has small leaves and gets some red looking berry type flowers in the spring.

Flowering Plum Tree. This was the tree that Kim really wanted. (Me - not so much). But when I went to the nursery - I decided to get it - and now that it is planted - I really like it. (and it made Kim really happy). In the last few days it has really starting to drop its leaves - which has me a little concerned - but I can tell that new buds are starting to develop along its branches - so I believe it will be alright.

Western Redbud Tree - I wanted to add one more photo to this blog. This is a tree that I planted two years ago in my front yard. It is still quite small but was tiny when I planted it. The Western Redbud is most known for its beautiful display of blossoms in the spring. So far I have only seen a few tiny blossoms this past spring - but hopefully as it matures it will blossom more. If so - I'll have to take a picture of it in full bloom and update this blog.