Dappled shade

In January, my neighbor to the East hired the woodcutters to remove her oak trees so she could grow a greener lawn.

I told my neighbor that the trees were 50+ years old and they made her house special.  I explained that the oaks were on the South side of the house and they helped keep the house cool during our hot summers.

 But she did not care.  She wanted a lawn.

I preserved the last minutes of these stately trees as the woodcutters brought their trucks up the street.

After a cool spring and summer, my neighbor's lawn is a bright green color.  Mostly.

Over the years, I have come to accept that my elders in the neighborhood care more about lawn than wildlife.  But I also have come to understand that whenever my neighbors chop down their trees, it opens up my own garden to more light.

Instead of deep shade, there is dappled light on the wild ginger under the dogwood tree...

and on the ferns and hellebores along the path.

Throughout Papas garden, the conditions are perfect for a lush and green garden.  Dappled shade.