Monday, May 7, 2012

Everyday we're shovelin'

Ok, so maybe not everyday, but definitely this weekend.  Shovelin' and reorganizing, since my flowers were planted willy nilly, with no semblance of order.  There's a lot of stuff going on that's just not ok...

 Like these butterfly bushes, placed here temporarily over 2 years ago...and there they sat, growing larger and expanding their roots. 

Much to my dismay we found it wasn't treasure buried under the dirt, just a concrete slab, preventing us from planting flowers in ground here.  I suppose the only upside to that is that the planting possibilites are endless now that i can actually dig there.
 
 Um...i have no excuses, just that this is where i hope my veggie garden goes one day.  Look away.


A few years back we put in the black edging as a temporary solution, since the red brick flower beds were much smaller and less curvy.  But my mad planting skills are non existent, and in the flowers went, willy nilly, clumping on the left there, and then nothing from the holly bush onward.

Willy nilly again and emptiness.  It ain't pretty.

So we finally made the changes that i'd been begging for!  Huzzah, now i can stop pestering the boyfriend (about this particular topic, anyway!)

I don't know where he got this idea, but he mixed our insanely clay filled soil with sand and store bought organic garden soil in an effort to make this transplant happier.

 That's him. 
 And then we watered.  Like mad.  And like magic-see, i'm not even holding it.

And now there are hopefully 2 happy butterfly bushes lining the side of our yard.  I'm happy, i don't know if they are.

 Relocated a Russian Sage from the front bed, and planted two zucchinis in pots.

 Relocated something else over here. 

 Hostas and garage pots with begonias.  Garage still to be stuccoed. 

 Front walkway.  Spikey things and petunias.


Clearly this isn't the most gorgeous garden in all of existence, i still want to add some more Salvia and some annuals. Plus the lawn needs mowing.  And then mulch...doesn't mulch make everything prettier? Then one day a real retaining wall...but still.  Progress!

I just hope those butterfly bushes are alive when i get home or i will have one grumpy boyfriend!  Fingers crossed!!


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25 comments:

Unknown said...

Ok, now that song is in my head!! Looks like you have a great start to your garden- I like how you decorated the garage wall. Looks great!

Lisa said...

Damn you! The song is in my head now too!

I'm so jealous of your green thumb and pretty plants. I just can't do it!

Love your garden flag too...that's the most garden-y I get. I change mine every couple months and hope people focus on that and not the ugly plants (weeds) we have.

Julie @ Creating This Life said...

Wonderful work! And it does look like a lot of work, so good job. Happy to have discovered your blog. I love Capes!

Reunion Committee said...

Aww it all looks lovely!
~Tana

Tam said...

Gardening is a lot of work! We have created such a large garden that we need 50 bags of mulch to mulch it all - looking good!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

You really did get a lot done! Moving plants is always scary but butterfly bushes get really big! I have two in my front planting island they have gotten much bigger then I thought they would. Might have to cut them back some. Still your planting flowers and working on it! Hugs, Linda

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Wow, one great job your doing with your gardening my friend. It's going to look gorgeous! I'm sure in no time you'll see the pretty blooms showing up. Thank you for your lovely comment. Yes, the couches were exactly, only newley reupholstered, they were always very slick looking and now the style is made a huge come back!.. because they're 30 years old! I'm so happy we decided to take them to the Upholstery Shop, instead of buying new...actually they all looked like these at the Furniture stores, lol..Hugs,
FABBY

Amy* said...

What a beautiful transformation! I love the pots along the wall. I wish my hubs would plant with me... he weed wacks so I guess I cant complain. Although he complains plenty about the half mulched garden beds and the bags of mulch left willy nilly on the lawn :) After seeing your garden transformation I may have gotten the gumption to finish my own!

Unknown said...

Your garden looks great. We have a lot of work to do in our garden as well. Good for you to get in there and do something.

Amy of While Wearing Heels said...

Wow...I wish you were my neighbor so I could enjoy looking at all those beautiful flowers/shrubbery/trees and all around loveliness.

amy @ whilewearingheels.blogspot.com

Robin said...

You've made a great start. Your garage wall looks so cute and just think of all the fun you will have doing this yard! Thanks for your nice comments. I'm on house #4 and it's so nice to read about someone just starting out. Great memmories of home improvement!

Robin
Robin Flies South

Teresa Arsenault said...

Thanks for sharing your gardening woes and successes. I am not much of gardener myself, but I sure do admire people who are.
Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog.
Blessings,
Teresa

Shannah @ Just Us Four said...

That is a lot of yard work! Kudos for getting so much of it done. It looks great!

Sew a Fine Seam said...

Looks great!

controlling craziness said...

Nice job. I've been doing a lot of work in my flower beds too. I had one butterfly bush but it mysteriously spread and sprouted up in 3 additional places. I was able to transplant one of the new bushes. I love watching all the butterflies that flock to it. Your flower beds look great.

Unknown said...

I was SO PROUD of myself for going out and pulling weeds out of the flower beds this morning! LOVE your garage wall! If I tried that, everything would blow off in a heartbeat, but I love the idea. Keep at it!

bohemiannie! art said...

Lookin Good!

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

Looks like a great start! And it will get better and better as the summer goes on. Gardening is hard work, but so rewarding!

Allison Shops said...

Everything looks great. We have moved several butterfly bushes over the years. It will do fine, but you'll have to water like no other the first few years.

Dropping by from Met Monday.
Allison
Atticmag

Small Holdings Farm said...

Found you from Making the World Cuter Party. Love your tips on successful replanting. I too have a current blog up about gardening tips...check it out at http://www.smallholdings.blogspot.com
I am your newest follower and would love it if you would follow me back. Sherron

Unknown said...

Stopped by via the Sugar and Spice #111 Link Party from 733 blog. :) I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one that plants, then realizes I have to dig up and replant...and still haven't learned my lesson!

Meg said...

I SO need to do this. However, my hubby killed all our grass (he says it was all weeds) so the yard looks like hell anyway. Your transformation looks great, the post's title is hilarious and when you said you mixed organic soil to make your tree happier, I read that it made the tree hippier. Organic=hippy in my brain, I guess!

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

everything looks great! the garage area is awesome. Love that watering can! magical!
gail

Barbara Lilian in France said...

Love your garden make over. Your butterfly bush (Buddlia) will thank you for moving it, it is a very avasive shrub and needs to be pruned to keep it bushy. It will look lovely this summer in it's new home full of blooms & butterflies. I will follow hour posts & look forward to seeing new pics of it later. I love my garden have a peep at my blog http://barbaralilian-infrance.blogspot.com

Oona Johnson said...

I actually really like your garage the way it is. I know cinder block isn't particularly desirable, but personally I like the look. At least yours isn't falling down like mine is! hah! I share your lack of gardening ability. I've been here over a year now and I haven't planted anything.