Thursday, May 16, 2019

A Free Before & After With Huge Impact

I'm sorry I've been missing for a bit....my busy season has arrived both at work and in the garden at home, and that means a lot less time to bounce around blog land visiting my sweet friends.

But I wanted to check in today with a quick look back at one of the changes Sweetie and I made in the garden that made such a huge impact. 

It was a labor of love, no doubt!

Here's where we started....


This is the view from the bench in the corner of the front garden, looking towards the house and the garden steps.


That crazy evergreen shrub was a wild thing the previous owners had dug up along the side of the road by a beach.

Maybe it was cute when it was little but it was really out of control by this point.


Last year, Sweetie surprised me by taking the tree out when I mentioned it briefly, and what a difference it made!


Such a vast improvement!!  Obviously I now had to figure out what to do with that little birdbath garden bed, and that's still a work in progress.


We left it alone at that point, moving on to other things...and this was the scene a couple of weeks ago, after spring cleanup was well underway.


Then I came home to this surprise....Sweetie had found some flat rocks in the ditch at the back of the house and extended the path into the front garden...again after I mentioned it briefly. Love, love, love!!

He's such a good sweetie!


Over the weekend I took it a bit further...I extended the border from the Hydrangea bed across to the little birdbath garden and the newly extended path, which cleaned it up very nicely.


 I just love how this is turning out! Just imagine it with flowers!


Then I brought over my Namaste Frog, who could no longer be seen in the spot he'd been tucked into for the past two years. The shrub he was nestled in had grown so big he was basically hidden, poor little guy.

I also brought over my Woodstock Rain Bells - previously they were next to the step to the lower deck, and they make a gentle sound when the rain hits them or they sway in the wind.

To really finish off this corner, I dragged a bunch of big stones in to create a natural border. Behind the border I placed two paving stones to sit my Namaste Frog on. He's flanked by Daylilies on one side and the dreaded Tansy on the other.

I've tried digging it out, but it's as stubborn as the day is long so I'll just have to keep it cut back and contained.


I'm thrilled with how this area is progressing!!  It feels like a proper 'garden' now rather than the wild and crazy tiny cramped pathway it was before.


There's really nothing much blooming around here yet, but I can just picture it when it's full-on summer in the mountains and the garden is alive with color! 

This project cost zero dollars....just our blood, sweat, and tears. My budget was happy with that number!

The pavers were left over from another project, and were just waiting for me to do something with them. 

I moved pieces of a few plants into this area, and a few things I started from seed. 

What a huge difference for NO MONEY! 

Let's take a look again, shall we? 

Here's the before (sorry about the sun smudge!):

 
And here's the 'after'...although when I get some flowers going on in there it will really take shape, so I guess this is really a 'during'! 


Amazing difference, right? I really look forward to puttering in this little area now, getting it all spruced up and blooming, like it deserves! 

What a difference some manual labor makes! 

Thanks, Sweetie - the muscle behind Mountain Mama!!

35 comments:

  1. Debbie that looks a THOUSAND PERCENT BETTER!! Love it! Great job. I always crack up though when you mention the "dreaded tansy" because that is my doll's name that goes on many of our adventures with us, ha ha ha ha LOL Hope your week has gone well, it's almost the weekend!

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    1. Ha ha, that's funny, Debbi! The difference is that your little Tansy is a sweet little thing that brings you joy - my Tansy is a complete nightmare that takes over every garden it gets into!!!

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  2. You have done a wonderful job - love all the specials areas in the yard and gardens!

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    1. It's nice to have different areas to enjoy, isn't it, Bernideen? Just as I have different seating areas throughout the property, to enjoy it from different angles!

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  3. What a huge and wonderful transformation! Your sweetie is a keeper for sure!

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    1. He sure is, Carole! It made quite the difference - I love the direction it's going!

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  4. What a wonderful difference! I bet it will be beautiful with flowers!

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    1. There seems to be strawberries growing in there as well, Penny - I'm trying to let them grow but also have some perennials and annuals for color.

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  5. Debbie, that is just beautiful! What a huge difference! Looking forward to seeing this area progress! And yes, your sweetie is a sweetie!! Love and hugs sweet friend!

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    1. Me too, Benita! I am still thinking about what I'm planting in there, but it's off to a great start!

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  6. Wow! It is a HUGE difference, and what a GORGEOUS setting! I am truly envious.

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    1. It's a lot of work, Pattie, but I really do love living here!

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    2. You still have youth on your side. I was on an acre in my previous house and gardened it to death, French Potager included. There are days when I seriously miss it, and others when I really don't.

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    3. I completely understand that, Pattie! I think as long as you have a little outdoor space to call your own and do a container garden, that can keep the gardener in you happy!

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  7. Looks much better. Editing garden spaces is just as important as adding. So glad he helps you!
    Brenda

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    1. That's a great way to put it, Brenda, and you are so right!

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  8. That really is developing into a beautiful space. How special that your "sweetie" picks up on the things you mention and makes them happen! A question for you - what do you use to try to keep the weeds at bay? Do you use garden fabric and mulch? We just put in a landscape-timber defined border along our driveway with 20 small arborvitae and I'm thinking I'll have to do something to keep the weeds out of the beautiful clean topsoil we put down!

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    1. I have used landscape fabric and mulch in spots, but honestly nothing really keeps the weeds out....it keeps it out temporarily but eventually weed seeds take root on top of the mulch. The bonus is they are much easier to pull out. If you have the time and money to refresh the mulch every spring that's the best....I keep saying I need to order a pallet of mulch to be delivered but another week goes by and another....you know how it is!

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  9. Oh Debbie this looks so nice. You and your Sweetie make a good team.

    Have a great weekend ~ FlowerLady

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    1. We do, don't we, Lorraine!! Thank you for saying so!

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  10. I love seeing before and after pictures. What an amazing difference. It looks so much better. You have a beautiful place there.

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    1. I love before and afters also, Henny! As you know, with any beautiful property comes a lot of work....but it's the good kind of work!

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  11. What a difference removing that tree made! I have a small circular garden area in my back yard with a bird bath in it and we need to figure out what to do with it (i.e., what to plant), too. We've tried a few different perennials over the years and they've died. Have a good weekend and I hope spring explodes into color for you soon!

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    1. I wonder why the perennials died, Melanie? Maybe you should try something easy like different colors of Hosta?

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  12. Well, this certainly all turned out lovely! I love the changes and I also love your property. So many gardening details to appreciate and you are completely surrounded by beauty. So fun to visit you and leave feeling motivated and inspired!
    Happy Saturday!

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    1. Thank you, sweet friend! I'm sure you are beyond frustrated with all the snow you are getting this spring...I'm sure you want to be out playing in the dirt by now!

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  13. Hello Debbie sorry I am late. Been painting and you know about Peanut from Instagram.

    Anyhow your Sweetie did a great thing with the stone love it.

    Funny at our old home my husband and I were outside gardening. He went missing for a few and came out of our wooded area on our y6with a baby evergreen. I kid you not and he was so proud.

    We planted in our yard and 18 years later it was so much bigger and turning into a beauty. My husband kept it shaped. When I read about the one you spoke about I had to tell you.

    So looking forward to seeing your beautiful blooms.

    Cindy

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    1. I'm not sure this type could really be shaped, Cindy, it's a shame! I have a couple of baby evergreens at the edge of the woods that my sweetie wants me to dig out and put somewhere else....perhaps if I ever have some free time I might just do so!!

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  14. Glad I read this post. I almost bought Tansy. I don't need another crazy plant. The oxalis drives me nuts here. I love how it looks with the tree gone. Opens it up and looks so nice with the walk extended.
    betsy

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    1. Wow, I'm glad you read it, too, Betsy!! I hate the Tansy, it takes over and smothers everything else!! And that's pretty funny, I keep looking at the purple oxalis and thinking I'd like some of that....I guess I better stay away, huh?

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  15. Wow, what a difference. That really opened up the space, and it's fun that you can see more of your beautiful home and garden now from that vantage point. And your new hardscaping, with the rocks and pavers, it looks so good. You really have a beautiful slice of paradise there!

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    1. Thank you, Heidi! I do love my little piece of heaven on earth, even with all the challenges to keep it looking good!

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  16. Your sweetie is a sweetie and it all looks so good!
    Lisa

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    1. I think there are strawberries growing in that bed, Lisa, and I hope they take over a bit and give me some strawberries for my breakfasts!!

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  17. Great one! Much appreciated for sharing this post.

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