IN JUNE I CONFESSED TO AMBIVALENCE about my weeping Cornus kousa, which grows beside where a much larger tree was lost to disease last fall. The odd-shaped little dogwood, raised from a tiny stick, seemed even odder without its former companion: really the sore thumb. Should it stay, or go? I asked. And you answered. It stayed, and then some. Never one to under-do anything, I went a little wild. The damn thing is now not just at home, it’s virtually enshrined. Say hello again to your old friend (up by the red arrow).
Remember ‘Lustgarten Weeping’? Yes, still here, though now having passed from flower to fruit (gone, thanks to chipmunks) to smoldering red foliage to bare.
Because of the sharp slope the kousa and I are on, I started with a single retaining wall around it, as you’ve seen before.
Then I was frozen for a month or two; paralyzed by possibilities, and unable to sort what else would happen in the space beyond the kousa, which stretches to the west of the house.
It’s good not to move too fast sometimes in the garden, especially when a long visual memory is still stuck too far forward in your brain. I hadn’t really let go mentally of the big old pine that dominated this whole area, a tree I loved.
Finally, it came to me: Since I’d already made a commitment to “terracing” or changing the grade with that first retaining wall below the kousa, why not create another flat spot on the level below that (flat spots being in short supply around here) for a table and some chairs? And so the second terrace was born, looking very much like a gravel-filled old foundation, perpendicular to the house.
You can see how severe the grade change is throughout my property by looking at the new wall, which fades from nearly 3 feet high to barely one stone tall over just 16 feet of span.
It required a proper footing, of course, and I loved watching the whole process unfold. Almost as much as I loved tossing in every errant stone or broken brick or any other form of rubble I could find. The wall project turned out to be a big cleanup project here, too–the end of small piles of unused, unwanted stone I’d left here and there. Buried!
I guess I have the kousa (and all of you) to thank for Margaret’s Big Adventure, hardly the kind of thing a largely unemployed person in a downturned economy should be doing. But I am glad I did it, anyhow. You only live once: and I plan to be doing some living out there on my new terraces, the paved one above the kousa, and the gravel-filled one below. By next spring I’ll track down a table and a proper chaise for up on the paved area, where the green wooden chair serves temporary duty. Oh, and carry away those few extra stones that didn’t find a place, like the one in front of the chair, below. Oops.
I know, you can barely see the kousa in that last exposure, against the wintry sky. But it’s there, just to the left of the left-hand column, feeling a little naked, but also terribly important after causing all of this madness to unfold. 
Nice! I love the look of it emerging from that slope.
What a beautiful job they did. I know you will miss your tree but it does allow you a bit more ‘mental breathing space’ that we agree is so good.
They are chopping the tree down outside our porch. I went out there this morning in my bobble hat and sheepskin slippers AND THE WHOLE STREET COULD SEE ME!
I am devastated! but at least the psychopathic squirrel can no longer bark at me all day.
It looks great, glad you kept the Kousa.
Well, look who the squirrel dragged in: Andre. Andre, it’s not Thursday yet. Seriously, though, so sorry about your tree.
Thanks to the rest of you for the thumb’s-up. Like Brian G. says, ‘mental breathing space.’ Starting to appreciate the more open view, the light.
I just love flagstone terraces. The view looking from the upper to lower one is lovely. When is the barbeque? :)
Ha! I knew someone would ask for the E-vite. Tammy, you are the naughty one. Snow forecast this week here and there…so “not right away” is the answer. Brrrrrr.
I couldn’t help but notice the ‘red’ arrow used for pointing out the kousa…do you have something against blue?
Well, that is looking mighty fine. I like how you can see the lower terrace from the upper one.
Great to see views of your place, the openness, the distant view (probably better now than during foliage season), how you move in your space. And the terraces. I’ve been using old stone rows on our property, and local help, to make dry laid stone walls and terraces. I think building stone walls can become addictive.
Looks great!!!
Margaret, it’s beautiful! With the dry stack look it seems that it’s been there forever. It’s okay to miss the old pine, but you’re clearly moving on to celebrating something new! It’s a gorgeous space that you’ll use many a year to come.
And amen to using up all the leftover stones and broken brick that seem to turn up every time you put a trowel in the dirt! I donated mine this summer to a friend digging a new dry well with glee! My heart swells when I see that now stoneless spot.
Since I don’t have my own garden I’m cyber-adopting yours if that’s okay. So in that spirit I love what “we’ve” done. Hee!
Seriously, it’s just what you deserve. A piece of heaven. Enjoy!
Fabulous, what a great asset to your house. Love the wall. I have stone coming from the building where my studio is, so this is giving me ideas. Your Kousa looks happy.
Welcome, Zehav. We hope to hear from you here again soon.
If you ever miss the tipsy drunk feeling of the old slope you could consider shortening a couple of chair legs… It’s beautiful and I’m sure the Kousa is super proud of all the effort that went into its shrine.
I love that distant line of hills through the bare trees. Same over here at my house where the mountain is showing up after the color.
Now, in addition to my Grey House and Great Garden Envy I have Dry Stack Wall Envy. (Beautiful though, can’t wait to see what sort of envy I develop next!)
@Anna: No worry about Grey House Envy…let it go. The house is the very, very darkest olive green (with orange trim). So phew, at least that’s one less issue to content with. :)
Margaret- Not only is your blog a treat, but whenever you include photos of your home and yard it feels like Christmas to me. I am ever amazed at the creative and thoughtful ways you enhance your living space. Seeing the evolution over the years is truly inspiring.
Welcome, Patty. Maybe it feels like Christmas because everything’s painted red (well, dark orange) and green? :) Please come back and see us soon; I look forward to it.
I’m digging these new terraces. Love the concept of an extended barn from the house, now absent – foundation and gravel surface remain.
I love it all! And may I just say that velvety pine on the right looks particularly gorgeous in front of the now bare trees.
Welcome, Judith. The dwarf white pine has a twin across the yard apiece, and I have had it a very long time. A lovable plant to be sure. Thanks for visiting; come again soon.
I’ve said it before, but I just love the colour of the house now! …Oh, and the little weeper better keep its chin up now that it’s been “enshrined.”
Glad you kept her.
Thanks, Andrew; nice to “see” you. I will relay the message to the Kousa.