Trees of Loveless

I went to great pains to try to preserve the trees and native woodsy plants that had re-taken the shady lot at Loveless during those years of neglect. One of my favorite things was to hike down this footpath we created, on the way to the cabin demo.

The scene au naturel last summer.

Lucky for me, my generous neighbor, Scott, let the construction trucks use his driveway to access my land so I didn't have to carve a driveway down the hill. 

Still, I was bowled over when I saw the place for the first time after the well had been dug, the septic system installed and the foundation walls erected. A whole lot of volunteer saplings and mature ferns got plowed up, including some of the young river birches I was so thrilled to discover last year.

My friends urged me not to fret, and reminded me that I can always replant. So once we grade the land (I've got a friend with the equipment and joie de vivre for Loveless), we'll start crafting a new natural landscape.

Meantime, I'm dedicating this blog post to the trees of Loveless. 

This tree, positioned between my neighbor's property and mine, took the brunt of collateral damage. Fingers crossed it'll heal in due time. 

On the up side, I was able to save this tree. It already has proven its mettle as the toughest tree on the lot, but it’s also one of the nicest. Man, if this tree could talk ...  

And, the future. Right after buying the place in Fall 2010, I transplanted four tiny spruce seedlings that were destined for compost due to trampling, because they were sprouting right on our footpath. It looks like three of them have made it, so far. This photo, snapped last month, makes me think I might be able to save a few more.



Then there's this funky tree hugger. My good friend and former bandmate Bill Plattes (a fiddling phenom) took this photo of the twisted sisters. He made a sojourn to Loveless in mid-March with his wife, the lovely and talented interior designer, Laurie Plattes.



Bashful Bill.