Our city was giving out some free tree & shrub saplings at the nearby library branch, we got 2 lilacs and 1 redbuds!
Thank you, CambMA!
Btw, I use fallen leaves as mulch.
A orchard tree specialist who was trimming our neighbor’s tree told me that the conventional mulch doesn’t add nutrients to the soil, but takes away energy from it. He said he uses cut-up leaves.
Between you, me and the devil in the deep blue sea, I have a plan to slowly turn our shared lawn into a mini meadow.