Spring is coming! If slowly, but surely. ;)
We've gotten a big taste of it here this week, but I know it will be a little slower in coming up your way. It is lovely to dream about those longer, warmer days though! It will be so fun to watch how your little space progresses. I think it is fascinating to see how people use whatever space they have to grow!
It is tough to rip out existing plants, especially trees. But as others have said, at least it is for the good of planting many more living things. Is there a way to rehome some of those trees perhaps? I'm always amazing at what people will want to take or even buy off of a person in that regard. My dear BF keeps propagating yucca plants that he occasionally gets a buyer for off of Craigslist.