Before Photos!

As promised, before photos! I found these up in the attic. First, looking at the pond-to-be from where the deck will be. Some people just can't get enough of chain link fence.



This is the first version of the pond taken in 1999. We used a plastic liner that eventually deteriorated and got holes in it. We replaced the liner with a molded plastic pond-it's smaller than the original. Notice the red maple on the left. Tim found it in a pot next to a garbage pail on Clinton Street and brought it home for a second chance at life. The rocks came from train yards up in the Bronx. Apparently the Bronx is pretty rocky cause there was no shortage of 'em.



I took this pic from the dining room window, but now I think the above shot was from the second floor. Oh well. You can see the red maple has grown considerably. Tim's trying some bonsai techniques (see the ropes?) to train the branches a little more horizontal. He also cut back the red twig dogwood that's smashed against the bamboo fence yesterday. According to my handy BBG guide to Shrubs :"Shrubs such as red-twig dogwood, which are grown primarily for the decorative effect of young stems in winter, should be pruned hard in early spring to produce as many new shoots as possible"
Well, yesterday was technically still Spring (by the way, Happy Summer to you!) so we at least got the season right. Have to wait till winter to see our young stems' decorative effect!

Tune in next time for a found deity!