See that tree, how big it's grown

2004 - note tiny scotch pine to right of porch - Gertrude the tall slender tree

June 2011 - Gertrude about 30' tall.  Note how tall the scotch pine by the porch is and silver leaf maple to the right of Gertrude 

starting left by house - juniper, chinese elm, scotch pine, silver leaf maple,  Gertrude,  red chinese thing, chinese elm, globe willow

When we first made our home here, my Sue wanted to plant a tree in OUR memory . . . so we bought one we were told would become a good shade tree, a cottonless cottonwood, and planted it in the middle of our front lawn -- and named her Gertrude . . . I don't seem to have a picture of Gertrude when first planted for some reason, but I do have some when she was about 5 years old.  We then, over the years, planted more -- a total of 10 actually, with 2 not surviving  One of them was in honor of her mother -- a silver leaf maple -- not far from Gertrude. 8 trees live in the front yard now.