Spring is finally arriving in Richmond, and we couldn’t be more excited. Warmer days, fresh green leaves, and early blooms are bringing the yard to life. If you’re not seeing signs of spring yet where you are, consider this a small, virtual bouquet of what’s unfolding around our new home.
One of the first signs of the season on our property is the hydrangea bed. Tiny buds are appearing on the stems we inherited with the house, promising a full display later in the season. Nearby, daffodils have already opened and are popping up across the yard—bright, cheerful bursts of yellow that make it feel like the landscape is celebrating with us.
Spring has an extra layer of excitement this year because everything around the new house is a surprise. We’re seeing what grows on this property, what needs attention, and what will influence our future landscaping plans. The back of the house looks noticeably different from the brick ranch facade in front; the addition has a distinct 1970s vibe despite the main house dating to the 1960s. One day we’d like to unify the look so the whole exterior feels cohesive. That’ll be a design project for another season.
Our dog Burger is just as eager for spring as we are. He can’t wait to get into the backyard for what will likely be months of bug-hunting and sniffing. He spends a lot of time gazing out the living room window, clearly planning his next outdoor adventure. The shrubs outside that window are already tempting a trim, and some of us are far more twitchy about pruning than others.
Temperatures here have been pleasant, generally ranging from the mid-50s to the high-60s, with a few warmer days already into the 70s. Those mild days mean yard work climbs higher on our to-do list. We’ve started prepping the beds and clearing some overgrowth, and we’ll be sharing a more detailed tour of the exterior soon. Stay tuned for photos and a walkthrough of what we’re planning for the front and back yards.
The one real springtime bummer involves a tree in the front yard that’s grown—or perhaps was planted—very close to the foundation. Its trunk and roots appear to sit almost on top of the house’s edge, and the branches stretch along the side of the porch and over the walkway to the front door. It’s a charming tree, especially when it’s covered in white blooms, but we suspect it may need to come down before its roots cause structural problems.
Those white flowers make the tree hard to let go of; they give it a soft, sentimental quality that tugs at the heart. Still, practicality is important when a tree threatens a house. We’re bracing for a complicated removal and root work if we decide it must go. If anyone recognizes the tree from its white spring blooms, we’d be grateful for any input about identification and whether remediation to preserve it might be possible.
Despite the tree dilemma, spring brings plenty to look forward to. We’re planning beds, imagining new plantings, and dreaming about options for unifying the house’s exterior. With a baby’s first birthday approaching soon, this season feels like a time of fresh beginnings for our family and our property. We’re even joking about whether Clara would be a good mulcher someday—parenthood aside, simple outdoor chores are starting to look appealing.
Is spring showing up where you are? Are you seeing flowers or climbing temperatures, or are you still shoveling through the last of the winter? We’d love to hear what seasonal changes you’re enjoying and what early yard projects you’ve started. For now, we’ll keep tending the hydrangeas, watching the daffodils, and letting Burger plot his next backyard exploration.