After many delays over the course of many months (they were supposed to be planted last fall), the trees we selected to shade the Keys House have finally arrived! Trees have been a part of the landscape of this house since it was new; the various species — and their arrangements — have changed considerably over the past 135 years. A few ancient elms have survived at the eastern end of the small yard surrounding the house, but for decades the bulk of the yard has had no shade. The following images will depict the transitory nature of the landscape of the house over the span of more than a century:

An early illustration of the house shows a small hedge punctuated by what appear to be fledgeling evergreens. Other types of trees dot the property (which was whittled down in the 1950’s to a much smaller parcel). A former carriage house is at right.

By the 1905 – 1910ish period, the landscape had matured. The evergreens in the hedge are quite tall, but parts of the hedge itself seem to have expired. There are several trees between the street and the sidewalk.

By 1960, the hedge and tall evergreens had disappeared. Several trees fill the space between the street and sidewalk on the west side of the house.

By 2019 the yard was quite barren, and painfully so. The house at the far left is a Radford design, as is one not pictured but directly across the street.

Our new arrivals! Two nine-year-old American Elms now break the monotony and will help to shade the house during our sometimes-unrelenting summer heat.

The two trees are starting to leaf out, slightly behind their more established neighbors. Happy Spring, everyone!

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