Tales of Brookhaven Ivy

It seems inevitable -- particularly from the vantage point of a fourth- generation southerner, in my particular case fourth-generation DeKalbite) whose roots before that lie in England (if I were to trace them back to the turn of the last century, my connection being my great-grandfather who passed away 11 years before I was born) -- that there is a certain attraction to overgrown English Ivy (or ivy of any variety for that matter, I'll be the first to confess that I don't know the distinction).

One appealing aspect of an older home, clearly, is the mature landscaping.  It offers privacy, greenery and -- to some of us like myself -- memories and a connection to our lineage. 

When I think of ivy and mid-century ranches -- I think of the homes my great-grandparents had in Avondale Estates and Decatur, particularly the house in Decatur that my grandparents had built in 1947 and lived the rest of their adult lives in.  And, in the same respect, I now think of  my own beloved 1955 ranch in Brookhaven -- and its backyard full of ivy.

As an adult, I had lived in East Atlanta before venturing slightly north to Brookhaven, and just happened to discover Hillsdale.  From my vantage point, it was perfect -- a neighborhood of well kept mid-century ranches with tidy yards, tucked away via two discreet entrances just off North Druid Hills Road.  

My late grandmother was quite passionate about her gardening.  Perhaps I will be able to locate some photos for a subsequent entry -- but imagine a gently sloping lot of nearly an acre, in the City of Decatur, ending at a creek.  With the notable exception of the L-shaped (originally) grey bricked ranch house -- the entire grounds were landscaped. I have wonderful memories, as a child, walking all the way back to the creek -- and admiring blooming azaleas and bright blue hydrangeas, neatly maintained in islands surrounded by liriope. 

So, here I am, a thirty-something -- now with my own home and its unique built-in nostalgia.   Frankly, it is a bit daunting -- especially for someone like myself who values greenery and has always aspired  to spend his golden years as the neighborhood eccentric--residing in that one mysterious home covered in ivy, and with an overgrown English garden (Note to the Hillsdale HOA: I'm kidding.  Kind of.)

At this stage of my life though, I have come to the realization that it would be more appropriate -- for both myself and my neighbors -- to purge a significant portion of the overgrown plant life that currently resides in my back yard. I, quite bravely, took the liberty of including some photos of my backyard.

I envision this being a discovery process, similar to what I experienced at my home in East Atlanta.   Although I will need to determine which plants to retain -- hopefully, it will allow others to flourish in the process.

Ultimately, my ongoing fear is that I may lose something that is irreplaceable -- still, I must venture forward. So, even if I do not find anything worth retaining -- I look forward to the aesthetic of a tidy backyard.  Or, at least that is what I keep telling myself.