I live in zone 4. My interest in plants and trees is relatively new, but increasing daily. Its incredible to watch something you have planted grow, I check each plant daily to observe the new growth. I think it started last year on our anniversary. We were in Great Falls MT for vacation, and I took her on their annual Garden Walk. The Garden walk was a small registration fee, a list of houses and a map of how to get to each house. I didn't know one could create something so amazing in a back yard. From the hollyhocks to the lambs ears, we were astounded by the beauty and color. Ever since then, we have had the bug. We live in ND, but I hope we can catch the annual garden walk again sometime. If you are ever in Great Falls MT around the 4th of July, be sure to get in on the garden walk. My wife and I were talking about my new found interest and I realized something..."what if the fellas find out?". She agreed not to tell them about me having a thing for flowers. LOL.
Anyway, the inside of the house is coming along well, and now it is time for us to work on landscaping and planting the outside. We want to create something really nice and colorful that comes back each year. We are willing to do some annuals, but only planting once is where its at! Our back yard is in an established area, so not much need for additional trees right now. Mainly shrubs, flowers and vines for us.
I am also working with my mothers yard, an empty 70x65 foot canvas that slopes from back down to the front. We are trying to work from the outside in. Put up a chain link fence last weekend so the little dog wouldnt get out and we are now ready to landscape. I ordered 20 Hybrid Poplars for the perimeter (its on the northern outskirts of town and it gets windy and its not very private). We also ordered 2 sugar maples. Looking to either put up hedge just inside the fence or vine on the fence, not sure yet. Then we will terrace in the center to make steps. the rest will develop as i go along. Tough due to the 1.3 hours to get to ma's place. Hopfully this forum will help us along the way and afterward I can share my new knowledge with the newcomers.