In addition to the kitchen remodeling https://pbase.com/britestar/kitchen_make_over that we're currently doing, we're also in the midst of a major landscaping project.

We've been working with a landscape designer since April, and she still hasn't gotten things right. So, I've taken on some of the planning responsibilities myself to hopefully get AT LEAST the 7 new trees to the East (left hand side above) in before it's too cold for Fall planting. The work was supposed to be done in early September, but here we are in early November.

This week alone, I've had to change two of the trees on the landscape designer's plants because hers would not survive here. Hopefully, her company can obtain the new trees quickly and get them in this month before we start into a long-term Winter deep freeze. We've been lucky in having a warm fall so far, making planting still possible. But who knows how long this will last? In these parts, the weather closes in quickly and can go from 85 one day to 20 the next. Snow and lasting freezing weather aren't unheard of for even in October. So, our days for having any landscaping work (which should have been complete by now) done in 2024 are dwindling.

We measured the driveway today to try to decide exactly where to place the new trees. Although I originally did our landscape design when we built the house, I really didn't want to go through all that work again. But here I am.

Last Fall, my husband removed all the old planter beds beside the driveway and front walk in anticipation of having new plants put in this Spring. Only one dogwood and a crab apple (in the photo) remain. Unfortunately, work with a landscape designer has been unbelievably slow. Spring turned into Summer and Summer into Fall. Now, we're in late Fall. If nothing else, I want the trees to the East planted yet this year!!! However, it would be nice if they could also do the two beds on either side of the driveway. There will be 7 different, large beds to be planted to complete the East and Center front landscaping of our home. Although we've had - for months - a signed contract for the plants & labor and mulch and design work and whatever, things just don't seem to be moving.

However, in a way, the most recent delay turned out to be somewhat good because it has allowed me to tell the landscape company to exchange two trees (of my chosing) that will work much better than the problematic ones... At $2,000 per new tree (not including labor or mulch)), I want to get things right the first time. It would be a bit costly to plant trees that won't live.