When I Love My Big Fir Trees

I have a love-hate relationship with fir trees which encompass our yard and garden. When we bought this property, we noticed how nice it was encircled by them. The firs, which are about 50-60 years old, are quite tall and stately. They create a great background for my garden. Moreover, they shield the garden plants from strong winds and serve as insulation from cold temperatures. Sometimes, when the surrounding areas are white from frost, our lawn remains green thanks to them. I feel like we have our own microclimate.
I do love our fir trees for that.

 On the other hand, the trees represent a challenge when it comes to working with the soil and planting.
 The tree roots create a dense mat, make digging a chore, suffocate my perennials, stretch under the stepping stones and destabilize them.
Wherever I dump good soil, the roots will find it and compete with the garden plants for water and nutrients.
I wouldn't call it hate, but dealing with the fir roots irritates me.
Nevertheless, I readily can overlook my misgivings regarding the fir trees in winters when we have a rare snow.
Let's not mix apples and oranges. Mess on the roads, bad traffic, cold, etc. has nothing to do, in my book, with the beauty of the evergreens covered with snow.
I spent a couple of hours in the garden on the 9th of February, walking around, looking at it from here and there. I do love my snow-covered garden.
The firs seem to be like curtains framing the garden. They look like textured three-dimensional  screens. What would my garden be without them?

I know I show my gazebo too often, but it is a landmark in my garden!

What is behind those trees in the background? Something. But, I don't see it, I don't think about it.
The trees are the walls. Beautiful walls of the big garden room, and the gazebo is a 'piece of furniture'.

Deciduous trees and shrubs are gorgeous with such a rich dark-green background which sets them out:

( Japanese maple, Lilac, Wild rose bush)

How would this little sculpture of a boy with a turtle look without the green trees?

I am so glad I didn't cut several huge low-hanging branches:

 They fill the space, give me a sense of coziness like being in the real deep woods.

Isn't it a perfect frame for the birdbath?

One of the respected landscaping specialists recommended to cut down 

one of these two fir trees growing next to each other (Pictures below). 

 I know, I make some mistakes, but I'm pleased with myself for not following that advice.

Or should I? Cut down the left one and leave the right one? No.

Trees are the perfect place for garden accessories:

And their bark! Isn't it beautiful?

Below is the only Western Hemlock in our garden, Tsuga heterophilla, 

which is the state tree of Washington.

Aralia's  big lobbed leaves look very nice next to the firs' needles (picture above), as well as to the smaller foliage of Escallonia and Ligustrum  (picture below).

Several fir trees, together with the evergreen salal and huckleberries, on the left, camouflage my compost pile:

When there are no colorful flowers, different shades of green  are pleasant to the eye.

Brown and red colors also pop up.

There are times when the fir trees, with their roots and tons of cones and  branches, give me additional chores, but I still love them and appreciate their role in my garden.

***Copyright 2014 TatyanaS