Spring Cleaning

Over several weeks of March and April this spring, BEFORE I sprained my ankle, the dogs and I got inspired and spent quite a few hours of hard labor re-shaping part of our front yard. Tonight I have spent all my OD time editing pictures, so I am not going to say too much. I am very very proud of our results, though, so I wanted to brag share a little!

I am not too original, but I kind of re-claimed the “shaping” we had professionally done about 7 years ago, which our jungle-y yard had totally re-claimed. I bought rocks, dirt, flowers, and a few replacement flowering bushes. The dogs kept me company while I did the bulk of the work, not the least of which was quite a lot of vine and other plant clearing and hauling. MiddleSon was commissioned to shovel the river rock into a wheelbarrow so I could dump it load by load, but I placed and spread it myself.

Hubby worked on the first area we re-claimed, which was NOT part of the landscapers’ plan all those years ago. To replace a large hole from which a tree stump had been dug up, we added dirt and then some clay-granite stuff around some flat flagstones, creating a flat area which is now a kind of woodsy seating nook. I have added wrought iron chairs and a couple of wind chime type of thingies which I received as gifts, and a bug lantern. I have enjoyed sitting out there on several evenings lately – in the semi-hidden nook right in the middle of my front yard. On our quiet cul-de-sac it is exactly private enough. All in all, I am very happy with the results!

This became

this:

This view

now looks like this:

My biggest accomplishment was the re-claiming of this flower bed. Yes, the sprinkler system still aims special jets in this direction, which is why the other vines have flourished lately.

Wow! I can hardly believe it myself!

Just across from the previous bed, I reclaimed the “shrub bed”, trimming all those still living and replacing some of the dead ones with 2 gardenias and 2 azaleas.

A final medley of some of the pretty views now available around here!