Starting over.

We moved to a new property last November. It was a yard full of grass with square and round bushes. I'm a plant collector and had to move over 600 different perennials, woody shrubs and trees along with too many bulbs to count. I have the front yard on it's way, the one side is for berries and fruit trees but my back is the side of a mountain. The soil is slightly sandy, filled with mine rock and tons of night crawlers, not good for forest trees. I'm struggling to fill in the back and can't wait until it begins to bloom this spring. Some pictures to follow.

Property when we first bought it.

The front yard now that I've moved some plants in from our old property.

The front yard another view.

My new front yard.

The left side of the house before.

The back of the house looking over steep hill into wooded area now. We had to put steps over the fence to keep from falling as you walked down into the woods.

This message was edited Dec 7, 2011 7:32 AM

Back of the house before any planting.

Right side of the house before.

Wow what a difference! You've been busy! looks great!

Thanks!

Right side in early May.

That's a lot of work considering the soil prep. It should explode next spring.
Andy P

Wonderful work on those gardens!

great to have a gardener in charge. I like the contrasts especially the purple leaved shrub. Neighbors conifer is worrying as trees down on wires is a hazard. It obviously has stood for a good number of years & hope it stays that way. Your poor former house has lost a lot.

I incorporated 6 cubic yards of compost into the front yard. Lot of work but worth it. I took to raking the neighbor's oak leaves to start making my own mulch for next years fertilizer. After this there won't be much work other than cutting back and dividing plants. Easier to sit with a glass of ice tea and watch everyone else cut grass all summer.

:) Grass definately belongs in OTHER people's yards!

Spoken like a true gardener.

Your yard looks really nice. How nice to have a great gardener for a neighbor! Keep up the good work. Love your pictures!

Yes, leave the grass for the other guys. A well prepared perennial flower garden is less work & more rewarding than a mono-culture lawn.
My lawn is shrinking, too.
Andy P

Do you have pictures Sarahskeeper?

You have created a real haven for bees and butterflies....birds, too, I'm sure....lovely!

Very nice! I personally prefer flowering shrubs, including natives, to perennials, though I still have many. Bulbs, shrubs, trees and vines are wonderful and practically no maintenance. Perennials do require cutting back/removal. Many require deadheading - for better bloom and/or eliminating seeds that will spread the plant. They are also less drought tolerant, in general, than the others.

This message was edited Dec 8, 2011 8:33 PM

mgarr, sure I have pics. But this is your thread.
I don't have B4 & after like you cause I've been here for 25 years.
Here's a 21 X 7 ft section of former lawn with my namesake Sarah.

Andy P

Here is my back yard including the above garden a couple months later. This was all grass planted over what used to be a sand & gravel pit B4 the house was built. Compost is the key, make & use as much as possible.
Andy P

I love the way you spread out the Lilium instead of keeping them all in one spot. It moves your eye across the planting nicely.

Very lovely! Both of you!!!

Great job! Your hard work shows!

great pictures.

Beautiful garden, Andy!

nice

Thanks for all your kind words. M

Did you slip in a few spring bulbs?

I grow about 30 different species of bulbs. Because of all the field mice and squirrels I don't do many tulip species but there are so many different spring bulbs and early summer flowering bulbs I don't miss the tulips much. The picture is of ornamental onions.

I love the alliums too. Do you think they work as repellants for voles and mice?

No. My cats and the Hawk seem to work better.

I like the large allium. Very majestic.

I have no luck with alliums....they die out on me after a year or two.....

Robindog, send me you address in the late spring and I'll send you some bulbs. Mine keep multiplying. Maybe you are planting where the soil is too wet at one time during their cycle. I even plant some in the woods where they get almost not sun.

Very much enjoying the photos, especially 'before and after'. Quite a change and can appreciate your hard work.