Friday, May 14, 2010

Showing some curves



My sweet little home has gone through some changes since that first day she became ours.  The first time we saw her she was a real blank slate, no bushes or edging.  We were free to do whatever we wanted.  When we went back to look a second time, the owner planted and edged and we felt bad ripping out what we were essentially now going to be paying for.  So we made do, just mulching and adding a few annuals that first year.   Of course, we powerwashed the stairs, got a new light fixture, and new mailbox.





By the next summer, we had changed the screen door and the shutters, made an address plaque, and were trying to bulk up the garden.  But still, straight and boxy.  I want to be rid of the straight and boxy.  At this point, she looks like the picture on the right.  Garden has perennials.  Check.  Flower bed, though planted with no rhyme or reason due to my immense lack of skills, is curvy and much larger.  Check.  But you can't even TELL from the street!!! 





You might be wondering why we "went backwards" with that plastic black edging, but in my opinion we had to go backwards to go forwards.  We were able to sell the red scalloped bricks (not my style at all!) via Craigslist.  Right in front of the red bush, and pretty much where the welcome sign is, is how big the bed was before we curved it out.  We used a hose and spray paint to map out exactly what i wanted because S wasn't getting it based on my arm movements alone.  It looked like a cross between trying to take flight and an elaborate prayer ritual.  And then we tilled.  Tillered?  Used the tiller we rented from Home Depot to add compost to the yucky clay dirt we have.

We would have liked to do a retaining wall, but the perennials I ordered came in earlier than expected since we were still having frost, and i had to get them in the ground.  To dig them up now, along with the bulbs we planted, would annoy me to no end. 

So no retaining wall now.  I like that whole raised up knife edge look which would still require taking raising up the plants, or I like these from Home Depot. 


I think we could easily work those to fit our curves.  Don't you?  I would love to know, dear readers, what kind of flower beds or gardens you have.  I warn you, though, I get jealous easily!

Linking up to Remodelaholic, the Inspired Room, fingerprints on the Fridge, tidymomsTrash to Treasure, Frugal Friday, favorite things friday, Met Monday, DIY showoff, Mustard Seed Creations, feature yourself friday, motivate me monday, room to inspire, women who do it all, show and share day, my backyard eden, blue cricket design, somewhat simple, show and tell friday.

14 comments:

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

Looking good...luv the new shutters and screen door and the flowerbed looks great! Thanks for coming by and I hope you have a FUN weekend:)

Blessings,
Linda

Debbiedoos said...

Your hard work is paying off, it looks wonderful the curb appeal certainly is livened up in comparison to before. Nice job!~

susan said...

Just wait until next year and do exactly what you want--no rush. The house is looking so good with your new touches. Home ownership is a never-ending adventure. I like it that way:)

Rockin Momma said...

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FrouFrouBritches said...

Your house is looking GREAT! Flower beds look good!!! You wouldn't be jealous of MY flower beds. I, in one of my stupid moments, put something called goat's tongue in mine and it's spread like wildfire. I can't get rid of it! It's awful!!!!

Kaysi @ Keeping it Simple said...

Wow that looks great! I love the landscaping!

Needles Everywhere said...

Hello again. Thank you for visiting my 'planet'. You asked about Half Broke Horses. I actually liked it a little better than the Glass Castle. I also love to read and will read almost anything that isn't smutty.

Joy@Thrifty Parsonage Living said...

Your house is looking great along with the flower beds.

Jill said...

Wow that looks perfect! Makes me wish I had a green thumb :)

Jill said...

Lookin good!! It's so nice to make a house your own. We moved a couple of years ago and basically ripped everything out of the house (including some walls!) and got the house done in a year, but the garden is still ongoing. It's very satisfying to see your own work grow!!
I'm following you now so I can come back and watch the transformations!

Unknown said...

Isn't waiting for plants to grow the most frustrating thing?! I love the curves you've added to your garden, and those stones will looks great as edgers!

I'm currently working on giving life back to a landscape that hasn't been loved in about 4 years. Not much to be jealous about yet, but I'm sharing the progress on my blog: http://designedbyrj.blogspot.com/search/label/gardening

The Blackwood Cottage said...

Super job! I've loved all of my homes but I especially loved the first one. We decided (many years ago) to always leave a home more beautiful than when we found it. Edging and curves....always a pickle! I take care of it in many different ways. Some, I simply mulch and keep back with a lot of work, some have the vinyl or metal(my husband's favorite) border, mostly I use natural stones from creeks and rivers to mark the curves and I work it. Pulling a few weeds and cutting back grass every little chance I get. Its a fun thing to do with my coffee in the morning, doesn't feel so much like a chore. Happy gardening,
Machelle

Room to Inspire said...

Looks really good - your beds look great. I think the Home Depot edging will look really nice. We don't have any edging around our beds, but it is tough to keep that "clean" edge - I would like to add some sort of edge to all of our beds one day. Thanks for linking up to Be Inspired last week.

Chelsea

Jess said...

That is looking good! Thanks for joining favorite things friday!