Flashback Friday

Today we go back to this week in 2016.  Not all that long ago, but things sure have changed!

Iza was enjoying a box.  I sure miss her...

The Mews were enjoying some time together.   Seeing Ayla and Iza that close together was rare!

As years pass and the climate warms, the First Frost comes later and later.  When I moved here, it was usually around Oct 20.  Lately, it has been a week later.  The current Weather Channel forecast doesn't show expected lows under 40F through Nov 9th.  

So the mid 2010s was about when I really noticed the change.  The flowers survived longer than usual.  The impatiens were lovely...

As were the coleus...

Marigolds,,,

And zinnia...

The front yard was in full color.  The 2 golden-leaved trees are 'Golden Rain'.  The red shrub is 'Burning Bush'.  They all died in the dry 2020 and 2021 Summers in spite of frequent drip-watering.

The same goes for the Beech tree at the far right.  I had the skeletal remains cut down and the stump roots grinded down a month ago.   That green spot behind the Burning Bush was junk growth; it went too.

I am replanting... The junk growth spot now has a hot-red crape myrtle.  I'll plant a rooted cutting of a Euonymus shrub or a Butterfly Bush where the Burning Bush was (I have 2 others of them you can't see here).  I may replant the 2 Golden Rain trees, but I may decide on a Spring-flowerer.  I don't want all the color to show at the same time.  

I haven't decided what to plant where the Beech tree was.  I like the purple leaves of small crabapple trees, but the fallen fruits are messy and attract hornets in the Fall.  I might plant a Sourwood tree (both burgundy and gold leaves in the Fall, but that is more Fall color again.  Maybe I'll plant another Crape Myrtle (but pink) for the difference.