Someone’s been messin’ with my yard again. And that would be Walter.
Every late fall, Walter pays a visit with his hedge trimmer and clippers and such and prunes my trees into new hairdos.
Did you just gasp? Good call! This man does the most gorgeous shrub trimming I’ve ever laid eyes on.
I love how he defines each tree to be a tree again, vs. one flat wall.
Oh how I wish I had a before picture of this tree! It was twice as tall with all these sprouts coming off it, like a wild gel hair day back in the 70’s. I’m surprised the neighbours didn’t come in the night with a chainsaw.
p.s. if you ask me what kind of tree any of these are, my answer has to be “I don’t know.” But feel free to ask anyway, hopefully someone can help.
I also very much love that Walter has a big ‘ol truck so he can cart the mess away.
Walter, of WPD Custom Tractor Services, is a busy guy, but he makes time for you. And he refuses to leave a job half done even if he’s running late and I told him I was totally cool with whatever. Nope. He refused to leave.
How in the world did I get so lucky to know all the best people on the planet?
This tree has been a pain in my side for some time. I nearly got him to haul the whole thing away. But we decided to give it one last chance and trim it well, so it actually looked like a tree again, rather than an overgrown dust bunny. And right on target, I did not get an after shot. But I LOVE it now. Maybe after I pull a few weeds.. eh… who am I kidding. It’s time to decorate for Christmas, not weed!
(Walter, do you weed?) (I kid!) (Not really.)
Maybe this is a standard shcmandard post to you. Maybe you have someone that trims trees without thinking. But it wasn’t that long ago that I had to hack at everything myself.
It’s just such a blessing that I can call someone like Walter to help me out from time to time when it’s just beyond our own capabilities or timeframe.
Jake, my neighbour, trimmed the hedges for the longest time. Honestly, it was because if he didn’t, they would never have been done. I didn’t have the tools, health, or money. But one year I surprised him. I called Walter and he did my AND Jake’s side. I felt like a kid in a candy store when I told Walter to make sure he did both neighbours’ sides WITHOUT permission! YARD REBEL.
My yard isn’t that big or even all that involved. But it’s surprising that with every tree that’s planted, it needs something back from you. But it’s worth it.
Remember my pining for that home for sale down the road with the shop and the fabulous gardens ABOVE? Could you imagine? I’d have to build Walter a 2nd home on site because I doubt he’d ever have time to leave, let alone sleep.
It’s moments like these that I’m reminded I have enough. This is enough. We are soooooo blessed with a sound home, a lovely back yard and the best people around. Today was a good reminder that I shouldn’t have more if I can’t keep up what I already have I guess.
Isn’t that the most annoyingly practical statement ever? I do believe I just turned into my wise mom. Before I flipped 60! It’s about time.
Way to prune those trees, yard messin’ Walter! My yard has never looked neater.
Disclosure: I paid for my own gardening.
WOW – I didn’t realize what an amazing view you had from your backyard – currently the hubby and I do our own yardwork…Love how Walter trimmed those cedars and that they still retain some of the individual shape!
Great post, with lovely photos and plugging Walter. He did a fantastic job.
Your philosophy at the end touched my heart this morning. To be content with what I have, as it is enough to handle for me.
Have a wonderful holiday season. FlowerLady
Walter needs to make a house call here to South Carolina!! What great work. He’s a keeper!
Walter does an awesome job!
I have canopy oaks and I just don’t have the guts to cut them.
It looks more like the Addams Family’s yard then a country shangri la.
I’m sure I would be relived…and pleased just as you were.:)
this sounds like the guy who mows our lawn. i asked him how much he would charge. he asked me how much i would pay. so, he did it for that amount. when i realized he was using his weed wacker, i went out and gave him more money. i told him that i didn’t realize he was going to do that, and he said that he didn’t want anyone to know that he would leave a job that way. after that, he came with his blower. geez! this guy wouldn’t leave it alone! lol so, i gave him some more money. he finally told me that he usually charged a higher price for the amount of property of have. the next time, i gave him $5 over the asking price. we really appreciate the work he does. it sounds like how you feel about your guy, walter. we don’t even know the name of our guy…shame on us! but, i think our neighbor does. she is the one who hired him to do hers in the first place, then she passed him on to us. we’ll have to ask her about his name. enjoy your yard. come spring, it will probably look lovely. have a wonderful day!
Not a standard schmandard post at all! Having a yard is a blessing, but having to do all the work by yourself is a daunting thought, esp. the older we get! I LOVE a groomed yard, love looking at it all nice and neat. Walter did a fabulous job, and it’s beautiful. Enjoy!
Oh I need a Walter where I live! Does he just come once a year? I could save up for him! Well someone like him anyway…..(wink)
I would have saved some of those branches and made a twig wreath or put some in an old crock, very pretty.
What a wonderful post, just to remind us of our blessings and the beauty that is in our own back yard. And that there are great people in this world. . . . . I want to read a newspaper or see a newscast full of stories about the “Walters” out there. Thanks, Donna!
Oh, isn’t that the truth?! We indeed need papers to exist like that! I’ll pick up the slack for now, no problem. 🙂
Were those branches really pinkish? Lovely….did you keep some?
Yes, they are! And I sure did. 🙂 I have a big enough clump for an indoor tree…
Love it. I have a Walter as well but his name is Steve. Can’t wait to see how it looks after it was all accomplished even though it is winter. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend.
I think your little tree in the front yard is called a drooping fig tree. I have one too! Your yard looks beautiful all trimmed, Walter is the man!
Correction! It’s a weeping cherry tree, lol 😉
Oh how I wish Walter lived closer to me! I used to have someone to maintain my yard. He actually cared as if it was his own yard. He took pride in what he was doing and enjoyed the many compliments the neighbors made. It was gorgeous! Sadly, health issues prevented him from the work he loved. I’ve had several other individuals or companies come over the last few years but they tend to just shear or hack aimlessly and took no pride in their work. I got tired of paying a lot for hacking up my yard. My husband and I try but we don’t have the skills or time to devote to it. I need to find someone like Walter to bring my yard back to the beautiful space it used to be. By chance does Walter have a twin brother in NC?
One of my favorite ways to relieve stress is to work outside in my yard trimming bushes and trees and making everything look fresh and trimmed up. It looks like Walter enjoys the work too.