Turning out quite well, though a future in landscaping, I think not.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

I know I've been MIA for a while but at least I've not been lazing around. Michael and I have been hard at work on the front yard landscaping and we're about 75% done. YAY! Michael's done a ton and he's awesome (I couldn't do much for a while because my back was injured when I was rear-ended back in December, but I'm good now) and the poor thing's got allergies BAD.

Here are some before photos:



























Not only was the grass 36 years old and waterproof (so extremely thatched and compacted that the water would just rush right onto the sidewalk), the shrubs - albeit manicured - were too bulky and hid the details of the house. Also, there was no way for people to walk directly from the front door to the sidewalk without either walking around on the walkway to the driveway or walking across the lawn. So, we've made a few minor adjustments:

Look at that fantastic detail! :o) Thanks to Terry and Doris next door, their son Eric and Doris' dad. They're all awesome and helped us make this walkway!





















Nearly all of the plants to the right were pre-existing. The orange tree in the middle has been Michael's for years. The agapanthus were from under the other windows and the calla lilies were split up from a massive plant about where the urn in the foreground is. Only the trailing rosemary in the urns is new. Oh, and the urns themselves.

Wow, there's brick there? Those old shrubs wouldn't let you know it!




Michael rototilled this area 5 times. It was so full of clay that we could have started a pottery business. Merlin sure liked to lay it in though. His mother wasn't so thrilled.





The sod arrived this past Saturday and Michael and I installed it... with the help of Terry and Doris next door and Dean down the street. I love our neighbors!!!

Under the pine tree I'm going to put various plants and ground cover. Nothing too high- maintenance and which won't mind having pine needles dropped on it.


Under the set of windows to the right of the front door will be a fountain, bench, Japanese maple (which we already planted) and various plants and flowers. That's what's left to go.






It's coming along! Slowly (painfully) but surely!