Monday, May 20, 2013

A Bit More Progress on the Yard

My daughter had bought blue hydrangeas to decorate for the wedding (which wound up being inside since it was raining and cold) and she blessed me with them afterwards. So I dug out shrubs and other unwanted things from a little area that is in view of my scrapbook table. Then Ed got out the tiller and worked it up good, added a bit of good soil and I planted the hydrangeas along with some orange impatiens. Here is how it looks after planting but before mulching. It should grow into a really pretty little spot of color before the summer is ended.
Now this little bit of work is really nothing when compared to what Ed is doing in the front yard. He's recuperated enough from his hip replacement to get down to some really hard work. When we bought the house last August this is how this spot in the yard looked with all the overgrown thicket around these three beautiful big pine trees.
Last fall he pulled his truck up to the area and hooked onto the big stuff with a cable and hook and got it all cleared out. All along we planned to have this be a real spot of beauty. Ed decided to build a retaining wall around the trees for a bed. We'll be adding some spots of annual color with some permanent somethings in the center. I'm thinking of probably having a snowball tree and perhaps some smaller azaleas. Not sure yet about that part. But here's his start on it. He's actually 2/3 through with the wall but this picture was taken a few days ago. I'll make another post when it's finished.
So that's a bit of the progress we've made with this renovation of an abandoned, overgrown yard. The neighbors tell us that the former owners kept it beautifully until declining health preventing their doing so.

I'm thinking my next post will be about my other beloved hobby - scrapbooking.

15 comments:

Christie said...

It is looking wonderful! I can't get the hydrangea's I planted in my yard to bloom. Actually one of the bushes died last summer. The other came back, but no flowers.

Christie said...

It is looking wonderful! I can't get the hydrangea's I planted in my yard to bloom. Actually one of the bushes died last summer. The other came back, but no flowers.

Michelle said...

I had to re-read that last sentence twice. At first I read it as hubby instead of hobby! LOL The retaining wall is fabulous; I'd love to have a nice wall like that!

Laurie said...

Gloria, what a pretty yard! Hydrangeas are one of my favorite plants. I have one right next to my front steps.

PattiM said...

Can't wait to see the area with the hydrangea's and impatiens when its fully grown.. Will be nice to look out your window when your scrapbooking. And the area with the pine trees and retaining wall looks better without the overgrown bushes.. I really like the retaining wall too.

Hugs,

PattiM
{Pattie's passion}

I Scrap So All Moments Are Remembered!

Laurie said...

Looks so pretty Gloria - I know you will enjoy seeing the plants and flowers outside your window!

Laurie said...

Looks great Gloria. I know you will enjoy seeing the plants and flowers outside your window.

Mary Lou said...

Looking really good!!!! I LOVE hydrangeas. They remind me of my mom.....she had a green thumb!

Whitney said...

Wow you all have done a lot of work. I know your hard work will pay off for many years to come. My neighbors across the street have a snow ball tree and I love watching it bloom every spring with the huge snowball flowers on them.

Anonymous said...

Hi Gloria, I can't log in under any blogs as I don't have one..It is Jo~Anne from CK here, I am loving your Hydrangeas and your beautiful garden and improvements to your yeard, Thanks for sharing with us!

Sandy said...

Gloria, what a lovely spot of color you will have to look at from your scrapbook table. And how great that retaining wall is! My hubby and I did one of those when we moved into this house and I know how much work it is. Looking good!

Sandy said...

Gloria, what a lovely spot of color you will have to look at from your scrapbook table. And how great that retaining wall is! My hubby and I did one of those when we moved into this house and I know how much work it is. Looking good!

gilroy gal said...

Beautiful! Love the orange and blue combo! Really is a lovely yard...
Barbara

Cindy said...

Your yard is looking beautiful, every little thing helps, doesn't it. You live in a pretty area.

Carolyn said...

Love your vision of the yard. How's it coming?