Dear Lois: I completely understand how you feel. When I was shopping for a new home I paid far more attention to the type and number of mature trees on the property than I ever did to the number of bedrooms in the house! I’m sure you know what I mean, either there is or there isn’t a huge old oak or giant fir standing sentinel in the yard. (probably not the most intelligent way to decide on a major investment).

Although you can’t replace large, old growth trees like these, there are still many things you can do to create a feeling of permanence and establishment, which is probably what you are missing if you have moved into a house that has been recently built, especially if most of the other houses in the neighborhood are also new.

HARD SURFACES
First of all, consider “hardscaping”. Putting in walkways, meandering paths, etc. of hard materials like stone, brick, even some of the concrete pavers that are now available give an immediate sense of permanence. Hard materials have a much more “been here forever” look usually than wood. The added bonus here is that you can then plant in fast growing creepers, like Wooley Thyme, Irish Moss, or the fabulous smelling Corsican Mint to quickly fill in the spaces between the stepping stones, giving it that slightly overgrown look that adds so much eye appeal.

PLANTS
Plant material, of course, needs time to grow, but a few trips to the nursery will give you ideas on various plants that can be used to create the illusion of a more mature yardscape. Many of the grasses and flax plants that are available grow quite fast and are beautiful. Vines, of course, are usually very fast growing, especially the annual ones. Put in permanent vines, Clematis, Jasmine, Passion Vine, Trumpet Vine, Honeysuckle, etc. right now for long term effects, and then next Spring plant fast growing annual vines like Black Eyed Susans, Sweet Potato Vine, and the ever popular Morning Glory for quick, colorful flowers and foliage. And don’t forget about Wisteria – I sometimes think that I could sit by one of those vines and watch it growing! Be creative with Wisteria. I planted a number of them last summer. Three were put near our warehouse walls in the hope that eventually they would create a green lace in front of the plain grey concrete. Those fellows shot all the way up to the 20 ft. roof this summer, and by next year I expect to see them creating that green screen. I also put in one near my office window, hammered a stake in next to him (or her) and have kept it pruned to about five feet, allowing a canopy of leaves to forma an umbrella top. Talk about a quick “tree”!

GARDEN STRUCTURES
Add garden structures, trellises, arbors, etc. Structures of any kind create an immediate feeling of permanence. Not only do they create their own visual interest, but they are ideal for those fast growing vines. Again, plant both the perennial and annual varieties for both long term beauty and instant effect. If you do have any large trees on your property, you might also want to consider using them as a “living trellis”. One of my favorites is to plant one of the vigorous climbing roses next to a “ho hum” tree and let the climber send long canes up through the trees branches. A cherry tree with “Blaze” climbing roses blooming all through it is quite a sight to see, and again, it only takes two seasons to get an effect. Clematis is also good for this, but you have to be careful, as it will sometimes take over the tree.



YARD ART
“Yard Art” is also a great way to get instant interest in your landscape. This can be anything from urns and pots you buy at the nursery to wonderful old “finds” you may have discovered at garage sales, antique auctions, etc. Look for things that you can either tuck into a wall, let a vine ramble over, or that will hold some other container of annuals for summer color, or maybe herbs for a kitchen garden. Speaking of herbs, many are very fast growing, are perennials, have fascinating foliage (think of those tricolor Sages) and have the added bonus of moving gracefully into the evening meal!

FOLLIES & OTHER TRICKS
Another favorite trick for creating quick ambiance is to build stone retaining walls or even “follies”. A friend of ours took a naked backyard, put in a small pond, some stone work around the raised area that was created with the dirt from the pond, then he went ahead and used the same stone to build a small turret with a stone arch next to it. Not only did this immediately turn his backyard

into something akin to an ancient ruin, but the round turret is just the perfect size for his wife and him to sit in and share a glass of wine and conversation on summer evenings! You may not want to go that far, but there is something quite wonderful about stone, and small dry retaining walls can be as simple as two stones high, with mosses and succulents spilling out of the cracks and crevices, again creating the feel of time and personal history.

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST
Remember, now is the time to be choosing and planting those small whips that will eventually become graceful Weeping Willows, elegant White Birch and lacy Silk Trees. And if you just can’t deal with the idea of waiting all those years, there is, of course, always the option of forgetting the new house and buying a home with a vintage oak already gracing the yard!