Bearing fruit

We were walking around on our piece of land the other day and were pleasantly surprised to find a wild tree bearing fruit - lots of fruit for such a small tree. I vaguely recognized them, and decided we better research on the internet before attempting a taste. I found out they are persimmons, which are common in the Ozarks. Although I have seen them in the grocery store, I've never bought any due to their high price. According to the site I found, persimmons are known to be very sweet when they are very ripe, but quite bitter before fully ripened.

We were planning to start a little orchard right around there with some apple and Fig trees, and I am thrilled that we already have an established fruit tree growing wild in that same area of the land. Now if we could only find a pecan tree, I would be in heaven. :o)

Landscapers with a personal touch

We have been reading several books and taking notes in preparation for a small garden in our side yard. I wish we could hire a professional to do our Landscape Design, but we just can't afford it right now. Maybe in a few years we will tackle the tough parts in our backyard, and we will definitely need help because of the sloped terrain.

One great landscape designer I found online is SLDA. They believe your landscape is "extended living space for expanded living." SLDA has a three stepping-stone process to ensure you will love your landscaping for years to come. The first step is a 2-3 hour walk of your property and an interview. They want to get to know you and your family's habits and what you expect from your yard. They strive to design landscaping that fits your family, not just the property. The second step is the designing. They use CAD and computer sketches to view the ideas on the computer, before even picking up a shovel. You can review and make changes as needed before the contractors begin working. The third step is implementation. You will get daily updates on the progress by a company representative, or you can log-in to the "client work in progress" section of their website to see progress notes and pictures of your yard for yourself.

From the very start, to the smallest details, to the completion - your landscape designer should have your complete satisfaction as their goal. SLDA meets this requirement and will even follow up with you for a long time afterwards to ensure that you are still happy with your landscaping and how it is maturing.