Been working outside

[mac78]

Here are a few things I am working on outside. In front I got my porch planter, pots, and some perrenial and annuals planted. Along the side of the house I am working on weeding, moving some things around, and planting some perrenials in a spot by the wood pile that doesn't grow things very well. The back corner of the fence I am turning into a perrenial garden. I am putting quite a few things in and not sure what some are, so it will be my surprise garden. A definate work in progress. Still need to get mulch down.

[annielinz]

Marie its looking good so far. Love that hanging purple plant.

[mac78]

My hubby bought me that for Mother's Day. I hope I don't kill it. They look beautiful at first, then not so good later. :)

[yarborough house]

Marie-

I Love the shovel with the birdhouse attached - how unique :)
And on the purple flowers - they look like petunias...if they start looking straggely(is that a word?) just give them a haircut. Cut about 1/2 off and it will look wierd for about a week or two but then they will grow back out and be full with flowers all over again. I do that to petunias and impaitens around beginning of August so they will continue to bloom big through October here.

looks good.

[Gigi]

Looking really nice! Isn't it wonderful having a party- makes you do all sorts of yard and house projects.... I hope you'll have time to sit back and enjoy all your work!

[Breezy]

Marie - your yard looks lovely. The hanging purple plant is gorgeous & I also like the birdhouse/shovel - how cute!

[Lynzee]

It's beautiful! You certainly have the touch!

[RoseMary]

It looks wonderful! I love the birdhouse/shovel! I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures as it all grows!

[mac78]

Thank you. My uncle made the shovel/birdhouse, we have actually had birds build nest in it. Thanks for the tip on the hanging basket.

[Lisa S]

I love the color and texture of the bricks on your house. When was it built? Your yard looks awesome too!

[Heather]

We don't see many brick houses here at all, they're mostly wood and stone.
Do you like it, Marie?

[mac78]

Our house was built in 1968. Yes, I like it. It is pretty much maintenance free, other than the wood vertical siding on the front porch and at the ends at the roof peaks. It sits on a crawl space. About 10 years ago, we put an addition on....16' x 36', which is Austin's bedroom and a family room with gas fire place. We sided the addition in vinyl siding, not brick....too much $$$$.
Our house has 3 bedrooms, a computer room, living room, dining room, family room, kitchen, utility room and 2 1/2 baths. I think about 1800 sq ft. We are 1of maybe 3 brick houses on our street/addition.

[shabbychick]

What a lovely yard! Thanks for sharing the pics. I think your plants look great, and your porch is very inviting! Makes me want to sit down for a glass of lemonade!

[Heather]

I've been kickin' butt outside too - it's been just gorgeous out!

[Zuzu's Garden]

I love garden tours. Great job, ladies!

Heather - Love your patio - did you put that in yourself?

We are getting tons of (much needed) rain. Good timing, since it's Memorial weekend and the tourists are coming up to the mountains to camp and roast hot dogs. Not that I wish them a soggy weekend, but the likelihood of a wildfire has been greatly reduced.

[Heather]

Yes, I did the patio!
One of my best guy friends has a backhoe.... so one day while hubby was at work I called him up and asked him to bring over the machine and surprised hubby! I still have to re-grout it - another on the list of to-do's.....
Here's before and after pics.

[Lisa S]

Good for you! It looks great. What materials did you use?

[mac78]

I love the patio.....and your yard is beautiful....I really miss a BIG back yard.

[Heather]

Lisa the materials for the patio are stones glued to mesh on 6 X 12 sheets.

Thanks Marie too... big yards are great for wee ones to "explore" but man, it takes me like 3 hours to mow the thing and that's with the ridem, the push mower, the weed wacker and then the hand clippers. Jeesh....

[Breezy]

Miss Heather - what an industrious lady you are! Your yard is simply gorgeous!
Your kids don't need to go to the park to play - your yard is a park!!! Well done!:)

[RoseMary]

That all looks great, Heather! I love the patio. But I can sympathize on the mowing~ours takes hours and hours. Sometimes I just wish for concrete:p:eek:.

It was finally dry enough to get started on my herb bed yesterday. I can see that it's going to take tons of work, but hopefully, it will look good when it's done.

[Lisa S]

I spent all day weeding half of my veggie garden. Haven't even gotten close to the perennial beds. These days, I'm wondering what I found so appealing about all of these flowers. Shrubs seem a much better way to go! When everything is done, my yard is truely beautiful. Unfortunately, it's only been "done" once in seven years! ;)

Where did you find the stone product? I really like it.

[Zuzu's Garden]

Heather - what do you re-grout it with? It looks fantastic!

I reached the "what-the-heck-am-I-doing" mowing large lawns and killing myself doing yard work milestone in 1994. The next house garden was xeriscaped, but I put in so many perennials that THAT took tons of effort. So, this current "yard" is maintained by Mother Nature, and I'm putting in the small wildflower border around the house. No more lawn mowing, weed wacking, or garden hose dragging for me! I made this collage for my website - it shows some of the wildflowers that grow here...

[Lisa S]

Beautiful flowers! Nature does a great job and we should let her.

[Heather]

The stones are just put down like any other outside tiles. They are already grouted but I want to fill in more inbetween the stones to make cleaning them off a tad easier.

I like the way you're thinking Zuzu - do you have a pic of how it all looks?

[Zuzu's Garden]

Not a recent one. This was taken in winter:

[annielinz]

Zuzu, bee-u-ti-ful!

Heather great job on the yard!

[yarborough house]

Okay Heather- it is a nice fun looking yard. I would say - hey it gets easier when the kids get older and can help with the yard work but for us - not so much. I was raised as I have said before on military bases and those of you who lived on them know about yard inspections..so my standards are very high...my kids unfortunately can't seem to reach them. :) So, I have them mow the back yard and the oldest does the edging - about 2-3 times till I say it is perfect - sad I know...and I mow the front yard that the neighborhood sees.
I'd say I have some OCD issues where the lawn is concerned..haha

Zuzu- oh my gosh is all I can say to that view..oh my gosh.

[Breezy]

Zuzu - now that is a gorgeous view!

[RoseMary]

I've been enjoying the warm temperatures, but Zu, your picture has got me thinking about winter. That's just beautiful!

[Zuzu's Garden]

YH - I thought the same thing. Three kids, old enough to help w/ yard work... they had other plans. :rolleyes: Hubby didn't do anything in the yard because of my "OCD issues".

So, finding myself getting older and not getting much help w/ the yard work and house work, I put a lot of thought into how to simplify life, enjoy it more, and do it with very little money. Finding balance between work and enjoyment was at the top of the list. ;) We spent a year looking for mountain property, and when we came down the driveway, I knew this was it.

RoseMary - We are just now getting some warmer temps. Winter lasts from Oct. to mid-May here. The Aspen leaves unfurled last week and the rain has been wonderful. Not in any hurry for winter to return any time soon here! :p

Zu

[mac78]

What a beautiful winter view.

[ChapterTwo]

Lovely photo, Zu!

It's so funny how winter views are so appealing in summer and vice versa! :o