It's Love

We made a road trip today to the southeastern part of the state to a well-regarded plant nursery. We were looking for some specific items for the yard, at a better price than what we've seen in the local nurseries. Plus, it's in a part of the state we just adore. Long winding roads lined with ancient rock walls amid rolling farmland sloping down to a river. It's gorgeous, even on a rainy day like today

Anyway, in an effort not to go overboard, we agreed in advance on what we were looking for and agreed that it all must fit in my car. No deliveries. (Even with that, we did have one fairly humorous miscommunication, but whatever.)

We picked out some red-twig dogwood of a variety called "Ivory Halo." The unique part is the variegated leaves. Then we went over to the trees where we picked out Japanese flowering dogwood, "Milky Way." Lovely.

While I was waiting for the cart to pick up the tree, I looked across the way and saw an interesting and very beautiful specimen. It was a coral bark Japanese maple, and it was so, so, so beautiful. I was instantly smitten, even at it's high price (out of our budget).

I spent fair chunk of time this afternoon, looking out at the yard, wondering where a good spot might be for such a tree. Where it could stand out, but not be in the way of other things we've already put in, things like that. I think I have the place for it, but sadly, it's because our last remaining birch tree seems to be dying, and quickly (the whole tree bloomed this spring, but only the two lowest branches leaved), leaving us with hole.

Now to justify the cost.

At any rate, it was a beautiful tree, and I'm in love with it.