Backyard (June)

My backyard landscape is growing strong:

I love how huge the asiatic lilies I planted last year are:

As for my other poor yucca, it decided to grow crooked, which was fine until the blooms weighed it down:

I'm excited that my outdoor tasks are done for the year. I scratched the climbing roses plan off my list, for a different outdoor game plan next spring. Woot!

Curb Appeal (day 8 and done!)

After today, the forecast is rain, rain, rain until my mom's party. So, today was the day to finish up the front yard; and after 8 hours braving the humidity – it's done!

Last summer:
Now:

I'm really happy with how it turned out. I can't believe this project can be crossed off the list. This is something Brent and I have wanted to do ever since we moved in, but kept putting it off because of time and financial fears. Thankfully, both concerns turned out to be a non-issue.

Time
I did this project in 8 days, and only had help for half of them. The project would have been done even sooner, but surprises like a gas lamp pole and a bed of rocks underneath the dirt – held me up.

The financial breakdown:
- Ripping out the bushes: free (DIY)
- Retaining wall stones: $80.85 (55 stones during Home Depot's spring Black Friday sale at $1.47, normally $1.69)
- Retaining wall toppers: $33.80 (20 toppers at $1.69 each)
- Landscape block glue: $9.60 (2 bottles)
- Shrubs and perennials: $113.66
- Mulch: $14 (7 bags during Home Depot's spring Black Friday sale)

Pre-tax Total: $251.91

Not bad at all.

Curb Appeal (days 6 & 7)

When I bought the toppers for the retaining wall, I pictured them all just fitting and looking amazing. Somehow I didn't process that the toppers are rectangular and the retaining wall is curved.

So, while I pictured perfection - my reality was:

My reality from the front door was even more obvious:

So, I handed off this project to Brent, who conquered it like a champ.

While there are several ways to cut stones, he used a circular saw with masonry blades. (Please note the plural on that – there's a reason those blades are only $2.50 each. He went through 7 blades with this project).

While Brent was cutting the toppers, he reminded me of Pig Pen from Charlie Brown, because of all the dust flying around him:

Once the toppers were cut, the view from the front door was much better:
After everything was laid out how we wanted it, we used landscape block adhesive to make sure the toppers stayed on.

All the hard work definitely paid off:

Now it's on to the fun part – figuring out what to plant.

In other rush week news: The leaves have been picked up and the man cave ceiling is done!

Flower power

The sun is finally out, and the flowers are blooming.

Just 2 months ago, the landscape was looking like this:

Well, hello spring:

My plan is to just add a little bit each year to the back. And this year, with the focus being on the front yard, I do mean "little." And then one day, it will hopefully become a fabulous English garden.

After seeing how strong the 2 asiatic lilies I added last year were coming in, I decided to add 2 more. I also thought a knockout rose bush and paw print stone would make great additions.


Since my dogs love running through the landscape, I have to leave paths for them. I also have to stick with thicker flowers so Macintosh and Chip will run around not over the flowers. (Last year, the zinnias I planted didn't last a single day).

The flowers that the dogs would destroy, go in the pots:

While I am trying a few new flowers, for the most part I am sticking with what worked.

In other news: I would love some jobs vibes tomorrow. The place I did the design test for, wants me to come in for a second interview. I really want this job, so it's getting tough to be nonchalant about this whole process.

Curb Appeal (day 5)

Holy geez, I need a nap. I've been inside for the past hour, and I don't think I'll be moving for the rest of the night. So sore.

My dad offered to help me today, so I took advantage.

What day 5 started with:

What it ended with:

The game plan had to change a bit because of the gaslight post we discovered last week, but I made it work. I'm loving how to looks with the topper. Now I just need to go back to the hardware store for the glue. Ugh.

Curb Appeal (day 4)

What we left off with on day 3:

With how long the first set of timbers took Brent to remove, I wasn't expecting to get too much work done – so imagine my surprise when they all came out together:

What my timber-free landscape is looking like:

Yep, it's so much better already.

Next, we started the part I've been dreading – digging out the path:

And since I apparently need to run into a snafu each day I work on this project – we found a block of concrete in the middle of our path. After some debate, we decided it had to have been a gas lamp at some point.

Day 4 final:

I think Brent's chipped away at the concrete enough now, that we should be good.

I'm not sure when I'll have time for my "day 5," but I am happy with the progress I've made so far. Ideally, I'd like everything ready for flowers and shrubs by April 29th – which is when my favorite charity plant sale is.

Curb Appeal (days 2 and 3)

Slight hold up on the landscaping, those timbers are evil!

In 2 days, we went from this:

To this:

Yep, that took us 2 days. And this progress even involved chains and my SUV. It's getting somewhere though. I'm hoping to start the next retaining wall on Thursday.

Curb Appeal (day 1)

Well, the bushes have been removed, and that alone is a massive improvement.

With:

Without:

We have stairs!

Then I drew out the line I wanted to follow for the first retaining wall:

The top walls progress:

I'm not going to lie, building a retaining wall is zero fun. Making sure each stone is level takes forever. I'm really not looking forward to the one I'll have to do where the timber starts. But it will be worth the time and foul language spent.

Curb Appeal (the game plan)

Full disclosure: I'm not a fan of my front yard.


Nothing tragic, but nothing exciting either. It's just blah, and I've decided that needs to change.

The Game Plan:
- Remove the bushes (I don't like not being able to see the stairs, plus they are dying)
- Remove the old-school timber things
- Add several retaining walls
- Then pretty it up with flowers and shrubs

That time of year

I can't believe it's already yard work time. It's gross and exciting all at the same time.

I'm currently de-leaving the landscape of the backyard – it's quite the chore:
So far no frogs have attacked me this year, so that's something. Although, I'm still nervous about having to remove leaves behind the shed (maybe that can be Brent's job).

Flowers are starting to bloom though, so I'm wanting to get all my landscaping tasks done asap.

Landscaping goals:
- Remove the lilies of the valley
- Remove the vine on the lattice and add climbing roses
- Remove the bushes in the front and relandscape

Anyone else have any exciting landscaping plans?

For the birds

I just discovered that Michaels sells birdhouses, and let me just say I am in love. There are castles, 2-stories, churches, schools, rocketships, etc. all for the amazing price of $4.99. Brent quickly realized my excitement could lead to 20 birdhouses in the backyard, so even armed with a 40% coupon, he limited me to one.

It was a tough decision, but I picked this guy:
And once painted and polyed:
Not bad for a $3 project.

Dead sod update

If anyone was curious how the dead sod Brent bought was coming along – here's a photo from the weekend.


So yes, while small chunks of grass are growing – the sod we bought that was alive is basically 100% blended with the other grass.

Lesson learned: Brent isn't allowed to go sod shopping by himself.

My completed backyard (maybe)

I know I have been slacking, but between working on the houndstooth wall, my wine intake and currently dogsitting one of our former foster dogs – well, I've been a little busy (or tipsy).

Since Brent and I are hosting Father's Day, we have set a lot of unrealistic goals on what we would like done. In that list, includes the bar, the houndstooth wall and the backyard.

Well, I'm happy to say that the backyard is now done.

This was the last problem area:
After mulching and some stone rearranging, this is how it looks:
While it's not amazing, it will do for now. Next year, I have plans on experimenting with climbing roses. (And to my fellow reader who informed me bleeding hearts are poisonous to dogs, thank you and it has been removed).

As for the rest of my landscape, here's how it looks now:
One yucca is in full bloom (my other yucca apparently decided to take the year off. But it does appear the asiatic lilies I planted to replace the zinnias are going strong – and they are big enough that the dogs run around them versus through them):
The day lilies are about to bloom:
The hydrangeas are out:
And this mystery flower is also saying hello (anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking it's a false sunflower, but I have no idea):

Memorial Day Weekend

Between socializing, the bar, the houndstooth wall and landscaping – Brent and I were rather busy this weekend.

The bar
Brent’s still working on it as I write this (yep, he is determined to have a finished bar by Father's Day). And I must say, he is well on his way. He got a lot done.

We have a solid back counter (awaiting something to go on top):
A working drawer with the start of cabinets below:
The keg door with aluminum on it to keep our future beer cold:
The houndstooth wall
I'm definitely making progress...well, aside from the mistake I made at the bottom that still needs fixing.


(For those of you wondering why I didn't just buy wallpaper – I can't find any houndstooth in the correct size that I like. Plus, I'm cheap and this is free).

Landscape
Seriously, I have a sick obsession. I cannot go several days without buying some sort of flower or shrub – and this weekend was no exception. Aside from buying things, I focused on the front yard landscape and getting it mulched.

Outdoor randomness

1. While the situation has been addressed, whoever put mulch and dirt on top of a bed of rocks is not my friend.

2. Until yesterday, I had no idea how many different types of hostas there were. After studying up on them in a BH&G feature, I picked out my favorites.(Photos from BHG's Web site)

3. After looking at so much hosta awesomeness, I found it necessary to go out and buy a hosta last night. I picked the Frances Williams, aka, Francie.

4. Of course, going to a garden center to buy just one thing is rather impossible – so I also left with geraniums, celosias and delphininiums.

5. Celosias still hold the award for Brent’s and my favorite flower. Brent thinks they look like colorful Christmas trees.
6. I had to replace my first pot of flowers over the weekend. I switched them out with begonias, because those things are survivors.
7. I remembered why I don’t plant flowers into the ground in the backyard. My dogs are flower abusers. RIP zinnias. You were pretty while you lasted.

8. All my other flowers are doing great though. Look how much the ones on my deck have grown since my first post.
9. We finally bought something to contain the hose madness. This has made my life so much easier. Definitely $30 well spent.
10. After more online research, I learned what 2 mystery perennials in the backyard are. I have lilies of valley and bleeding hearts.