LANDSCAPING PROGRESS

Our backyard was once a big giant disaster.  Over the last year, we have made many changes.

We live in an area where big backyards are hard to come by, especially big flat backyards.

Our yard is not flat by any means, but we have worked hard to make the best of what we have.

The top of our backyard is fairly flat and that is where the BIG transformation just happened.  

It's 95% finished and I promise to show you some pictures soon.

The second level of our yard is what we began working on last fall.

First we tackled a few of the terraces.

This past May, a dear friend of mine helped me landscape another big terraced area of the yard.

It now looks like this.....

  It used to look like this.....

We basically ignored the area for about three years.

I had a plan done by a talented local landscape designer.  

I took the plan to a nursery and bought all the plants.

My friend and I spent about 10 hours planting, laying the brick border 

and pea gravel and finally mulching.

I won't lie.  It was hard back breaking work, but we were so proud of ourselves once it was finished. 

I love that the plan included some beautiful Nikko hydrangeas. 

The plan also called for a few upright junipers 

that will hopefully take off and offer some great privacy some day.

This area has seen quite a bit of action the last few months. 

Especially since the top part of our yard was completely unusable. 

The outdoor fireplace for the top of the yard is the last piece the puzzle.  It will go in sometime this fall. 

We envision this area being a hang out spot for our kids and their friends, 

while the adults gather around the outdoor fireplace.

As luck would have it, this spot is just below where the outdoor fireplace will go.  

It will be the perfect set up to eavesdrop on their conversations.

Of course, they might be thinking the same thing. 

I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a gardner or a landscaper, 

but the more I get my hands dirty, the more I love it. 

The renovation of the inside of our home was such a big undertaking, 

I couldn't even think about the yard for several years. 

Now that the inside work is mostly complete, I am enjoying turning my attention to the outside.

Are you a DIYer when it comes to your hard or do you leave it to the professionals?