HEDGE FUND

About a year ago, we planted purple flowering plants under one of our blue spruce trees in order to add some color to our back yard. Those plants, however, have become quite shabby as the acid content from the falling needles has corroded the fragile leaves. With summer now under way, I felt it was time to remove these dying plants and replace them with a healthier, more durable hedge.

So, I drove to the Flowerland Nursery this morning, created and then immediately spent a $40 hedge fund, then returned home with two different kinds of hedge plants: Boxwood Green Beauty and Euonymus Emerald 'n Gold.

Next year we should have a low-to-the-ground but thick and healthy hedge separating our patio from the blue spruce.

From a distance, the once purple plants don't look too bad.

Up close, however, they look shabby.

This morning I headed to the nursery and spent my $40 hedge fund.

A bungee cord held the hedge plants in place for the trip back home.

The shabby plants meet their healthy replacements.

The new hedge from different angles.

Euonymus Emerald 'n Gold.

Boxwood Green Beauty.

We also had another empty box that needed some color.

Soon-to-be-colorful zinnias in place.