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Chamaecyparis nootkatensis “Pendula”.
The proverb “good things come to those who wait” came to mind as the Yellow Furze nursery delivery truck pulled into our driveway. Ever since taking notice of trees around me; their shapes, colors, sizes, I’ve wanted one of these “droopy” trees. As it turns out, my neighbor James has a mature Chamaecyparis nootkatensis “Pendula” in his garden. I was able to see what it looks like after 25 years (it is beautiful!). So for my birthday, which was back in September, I ordered this conical tree. It just arrived today! I didn’t mind the wait since September, though. That gave me time to put some newspapers down to kill the grass. I used our “turtle sandbox” cover on top of the papers to keep them all in place, and to give me the round shape. My husband kindly dug the hole for the tree. I love it. I think it fits in perfectly.
Marked area ready to be dug up.
My new droopy tree!
My favorite thing about it is the droopy look of the branches. It has a character all its own! I don’t mind the small size for now. It will grow in time, and as it does the garden will grow with it. Such simple pleasures! 🙂
Tagged.
The other saying that keeps popping up in my head these days is “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. Yeah, maybe you can guess that I’ve been working on pulling down the ivy from my Hawthorn trees? It really is mentally challenging! The brambles and ivy are completely entwined with the trees and surrounding front and back areas. I wasn’t sure if I’d find any more of the ditch wall, but surprisingly a few sections of it have been uncovered!
The new (pink!) gloves my kids gave me for Christmas to protect me from the Hawthorn thorns! And a view of the back of our trees where all of the brambles & ivy seem to thrive!
I would love to write about how easy it is to pull up the ivy, and cut the brambles, and that the hawthorn “thorns” weren’t sharp at all. Yeah, except that would be lying. 🙂 For me it is enough that my husband has taken note of the laborious work entailed in freeing up the Hawthorn trees. If the rest of the row of trees looks as good as the first tree I cleared last year, we’ll be delighted with the results!
Uncovering part of the ditch wall!
Boy do I wish I had a finished “after” photo to show you though! (This is where I chant “Rome wasn’t built in a day”…)
Looking for some encouragement here … Go Dana, Go Dana, Go Dana…
A dark day, but we can see through the trees!
And here is what I still have ahead of me 🙂
This is what keeps me going – The first Hawthorn and section of the ditch wall which I uncovered from ivy.
I found a little bit of color in the garden today. These primroses weren’t recognizable when I moved them into my little “nursery” garden from the front gate garden this past summer. The slugs *love* primroses! I threw them into the nursery to see if they’d survive, and it seems they did. The slugs still enjoy eating them, but at least they are recognizable for the moment.
Primroses.
Primroses.
Primroses, with a bit of a slug signature.
I’m so happy with my little droopy tree (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis “Pendula”)! Yes, I think it is worth waiting for what you really want. I hope if you’ve been waiting for something special, that it finds its way to you!
Dana
Mom in the Garden 
Your droopy tree is great and well done on clearing all of those awful brambles… I share your pain as I have a whole paddock hedge that need clearing in the same way as the damson trees are being choked. Unfortunately, time and the weather has been against me (and to honest there is always something less painful to be done!).
Hi PJ Girl, those brambles are horrible! I hate that the ends take root to the ground, too! lol. Thank God there are many other more pleasurable aspects to gardening. 🙂
Good things come to those that wait and work hard should be your motto. Love the tree and you must be very proud of the cleared wall and tree. I have pink gloves as well…otherwise I’m always misplacing them.
You are right Karen, I need to slightly adjust the proverb! I’m glad you like my tree. I love my new gloves – they really do protect me from the thorns! I was having to soak my hands in epsom salt every time I worked on the trees, and I don’t have to do that anymore, thankfully!
Oh Dana, you are so brave! I really admire your commitment to this wonderful work. And your droopy tree and primroses are lovely!
Thanks Linda. A little bit of crazy just might be part of my genetic make-up! I’m glad you like my new tree!
How lovely to plant a tree for your birthday, and it will be there for years to come to help you celebrate!
and the difference to the Hawthorns is fabulous, I can see it is hard work, but it looks like it’s very much worth the effort!
Happy New Year and wishing you a green and colourful one!
Hi Claire, thank you for the good wishes! Seeing how lovely the Hawthorn trees really are is what keeps me motivated. I think it is so sad to see them smothered by ivy. Of course it does help when my husband gives me encouraging words, too! Happy New Year to you too, my blogging friend. 🙂
I had to look up your new tree and see its mature form–it is absolutely beautiful. I love the before and after pictures you posted of your vines and brambles project. Stay motivated–you can do it, Dana!
Hi Mobilemom, It is an amazing tree, isn’t it? Thanks for the encouragement. Those words really help when I’m in the thick of it all! 🙂
Very nice place to work in the garden you have there . . . I adore the Weeping Nootka False Cypress. I have several because they have so incredibly much character and mood in the landscape, and I put them in almost every landscape of any size that I design as a basic element of structure for the same reason! Enjoy!
Thanks for the compliment patinaandcompany. Yes, I’m so glad to have my new addition to the garden!
Dana, I recently read to put wood ash around the based of the plant, to deter slugs. I’m going to try it this spring.
Thanks Amy, let me know how that goes for you! It would be great to have an organic solution!