What a Surprise!

New Parkway Trees! 

More than twenty years since the City's Street Tree Division cut down the tree that used to grow in the middle of the parkway in front of my house, siting damage to the sidewalk (it was their tree to cut and they repaved the sidewalk), and just under one year since M and I landscaped it with pebbles and pavers, the City planted, not one, but two trees in the parkway on Friday!  Not just in front of my house, but, several other parkways, up and down the block, unless they already had trees or had been cemented over!  Not a word of notice in advance that they were planning to do this, of course!  I woke up on Friday morning to the sound of machinery and, at first, I thought it was my next door neighbor (he's in the process of digging out the tree stump in front of his house), but, then, I looked out the front window and there was a crew of City workers, busily planting new trees!  Afterwards, they watered the trees, putting the water into the green bags that are attached to the trees.  They brought their own water in a tank that was attached to a piece of machinery.  

I don't know for sure, but, I think the tree closest to the driveway (pictured above), with the long thin leaves, might be Australian Willow (Geijera parviflora).  They are drought tolerant, fire resistant, and have non-invasive roots. They have small cream colored flowers that are attractive to bees.  

Flowering Pear

The second tree (pictured above) is a flowering pear/ornamental pear (probably Pyrus calleryana).  These trees have beautiful white flowers in the spring.  My little tree had one bunch of flowers on on of the lower branches: 

Flowering Pear Blossoms

They planted each tree between two pavers and, while I hadn't planned on having trees in the parkway, I think the end results look okay.  There are four pavers between the two trees and one paver at each end.

M was very surprised to see the trees in place when he came over in the evening to tend to the garden.  He likes the Australian Willow, but, isn't too thrilled about the flowering/ornamental pear.  I'm fine with both trees.   I hope the trees will grow and provide some shade in the summer.

I am grateful for:

- The City planting two trees in my parkway, at long last!
- The parkway finally looks cared for, with the trees, pavers, and pebbles
- M's help with the garden
- A nice chat with former neighbor T
- Being able to video chat with my daughter

Friday's joyful activities included having trees planted in my parkway and tending to the rest of the garden with M.

Do you have a parkway in front of your house?  If so, do you have any trees planted there?