Yard Work = Hard Work

The bids have all come in and last week officially cost us $25,000.  Oooooouch.

Before all our money was being spent on repairs, I was working on sprucing up the front yard.  I didn't inherit my Mom or Tiffany's gardening genes, but I'm trying hard to grow a green thumb.

First, here is a picture I took in June, 2010 when we first purchased the house.  It shows how basic the landscaping was at that time.

There are "before" pictures, taken in May 2012 (with Logan being my model because he didn't see a reason in taking a picture without him in it), followed by the "after" pictures taken in June 2013. The flowers are already looking prettier than in these pictures.

 BEFORE

The previous owners had planted bushes in such random places, so there was no logic to the way the plants were organized.  The rose bushes might look pretty in this picture, but I HATED them.  My life has enough thorns in it, so I couldn't wait to rip them out.  I believe flowers should always be soft!

AFTER

I rearranged many plants into other areas of the yard where they looked better, as well as buying and planting a wide variety of perennials, bushes and small trees.  There's much more order to the area now, and it will look even better after some of the smallest plants mature in the next couple years.

BEFORE

AFTER

I love this Weeping Cherry Tree!  I just recently planted the hostas (as well as three Gaura bushes that are so small they blend into the mulch right now), so they won't be large until next year.

BEFORE

AFTER

Shasta Daisy, Coneflower, Stokes Astor, Beards Tongue, Candle Larkspur, and Firework Althea (the tallest plants along the side of the house that will get to be 6 feet tall) are some of the perennials I planted.  I can't remember the names of the other ones.  :)

BEFORE

This front area bothered me because there was no diversity.  The flowering bushes were pretty, but boring.

AFTER

I kept one of the bushes, but added some variety.  This area still looks pretty bland right now because I need to add a couple perennials, create a defined border and apply mulch.  I have been waiting to take these pictures until I accomplished those projects, but last week's expenses have pushed the projects into next year . . .

BEFORE

This area desperately needed a tree.  There was an ugly evergreen here when we moved in, but I had Ryan pull it out because I hated it so badly.  The limbs drooped down so low that I referred to it as the "Eeyore Tree."

This picture, taken three years ago in June 2010, shows the ugly Eeyore Tree, the most depressing tree belonging to the Evergreen Tribe.

AFTER

I purchased this Japanese Maple and added a few Day Lillies to give more color and texture.  I've done a lot of work on the side of the house, also, but I haven't taken pictures yet.  

I also have NEVER been able to keep flowers alive that aren't planted in the ground, so I'm proud of the two pots on my porch that are thriving so far.  I love this heavy pot I bought, but it looked so large in the store before being dwarfed by my huge front porch.

Ryan and the kids bought me this bench for Mothers Day.  I'm thinking of getting one for the other side too, since the porch is so large.  Someday I will get a new door because this cheap-looking blue one bothers me, but the wood doors I like are a little pricey.

Up-close pictures of my flowers.  I'm amazed at the happiness these flowers bring me.  They have become my babies, and I can't wait to go outside each morning to check on them.  Every time a new bud blossoms, I feel immense pride that I'm not only keeping them alive but they are THRIVING!  Yay, me!