"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Friday, February 19, 2010

Front yard - what I've been working on.

With the nice weather we've been having off and on over the past month or so I was able to get a project crossed off my list already. I've gone outside to work on any day that it hasn't been raining. I can't believe how much easier digging and removing grass is when the ground is really wet. The grass practically came off in strips as I pulled it out. I remember removing grass in the summer and it was very difficult to dig out. If you need to get rid of grass, try doing it while the ground is wet from a good rain.

I realized I hadn't taken any pictures of the front of the house for a long time. I used to have front of the house shots as my blog header, but for now I just can't part with that cute hummingbird. Here you can see just how long the grass is already. I've seen people out mowing their grass, much earlier than usual. Ours is about half grass half moss right now. We're just leaving the moss, it's actually pretty looking.

The crooked line of edging was what I had wanted to fix. I had enlarged two different parts of this big bed last summer and didn't do a very good job matching up the edging. Removing the grass and dirt here took a couple of days.

This is after I moved the edging back and refilled with about 18 bags of soil. All that blank space equals more room for new plants.

This is looking down from the other side after I was able to do a little cleanup and weeding here. In the new area I sprinkled in Poppy seeds, moved some Veronicas out that didn't have enough space and planted the Siberian irises from Linda. Even though the edge isn't perfect I think it looks much better.

Another place I cleaned and even moved a couple of plants around. Look at all that bare space, I can't wait to fill it in with seedlings from winter sowing and the dahlia tubers I dug up last fall.

I can't believe how long the grass is, maybe I should at least edge it. I love how the light shines through the Spirea 'Magic Carpet' new red growth.

And a view about halfway down. The closest shrub with the green leaves is an Abelia and the one in the middle is a Mexican Orange (Choysia). Both are evergreen and add some much needed green during the winter.

I still have more to do in the rest of the front yard, but what a great feeling to get something accomplished already!
Pin It

42 comments:

  1. Yay...it is always a wonderful feeling when you get things done and create in new ways! your garden will be fabulous!Great job!! ooh..I SOooo love the hummingbird header...there is not a ONE out there like it..it is gold!
    Kiki~

    ReplyDelete
  2. Whoa am I tired. LOL! Back breaking work there but it looks better. I did like the weaving border too though but it does make room for more flowers. That is a good thing.;-) Would you just look at all of that green going on. Green grass and little sprouts and stems coming from your bushes. God, I am so jealous LOL! Green with envy Catherine.
    I am so out of shape from this winter that I will be huffing and puffing for a couple of weeks when I do get out in the flower beds.
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Lona

    ReplyDelete
  3. You Go Girl! It looks so ready for the plants and seeds you are about to put in. What a great feeling to get that much done and stand back and say - Mmmm I did a good job.
    Have a great weekend.

    (email me if you'd like me to send you some seeds)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can't wait to see your poppies when they come up. I don't worry about straight lines, because you seldom find them in nature ;^)

    ReplyDelete
  5. How nice to see green grass. We are still as brown as can be here.

    Your edging looks great. I was going to say with all that new space you'll be able to fill it with all those seedlings you got.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Like Susie, our grass is still brown - but the moss in some sections is green already. I like the moss, too!
    Your projects are looking good. Sounds like your dahlia tubers did better than mine. I kind of forgot to do anything with them after digging them up and photographing them for a post - now they're shriveled in a metal bowl in the garage. Oops!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I used to edge my grass by using one of those half-moon thing-eys. Took forever and I finally rebelled. Over the course of years I installed permanent in-ground edging for the turfgrass. Hallelujah! It still requires occasional maintenance, but much, much less than before.

    It will be so fun to figure out planting for a new bed expansion. I wish you happy planting.

    Christine in Alaska

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Catherine, It is always so very satisfying after the winter when the weather is often against working outside to be out and about once more. It seems to me that you are not only working very hard but making substantial progress too.

    I do feel that the new edging makes a better finish to your borders in the front of your house. As I think I remarked before, the blue is such a good background colour.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the wavy edging. It breaks the monotonous look of straight edging. ~bangchik

    ReplyDelete
  10. Catherine, Doesn't it feel good to have a few tasks checked off the list! I think the new cleaned up edge looks fabulous. I love the deep green lawn you have at this time of year. Ours is dead! What a winter it's been. gail

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh Catherine! You may be hungry for spring. It's still under snow up here. But soon, yes soon!

    Thanks for the tidbits!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just cannot wait to dig up some more grass - thanks for more enthusiasm! Your edging looks really nice and would love to see the poppies that come up from the seed. What a great front yard!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fab-u-lous! What a lot of work you've done already, and 'spring' isn't even officially here (but don't tell that to the weather). Love the transformation, and that you took pictures as you worked to show the progress from different angles. Can't wait to see the garden with all the new plants :)!
    Your header is awesome too. Those little hummers are the cutest.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Catherine ~ You have been busy and the edging looks great. I would love to have less lawn and more garden. I was looking at your slideshow on the sidebar. That front bed is so pretty! Actually, it ALL is!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. You have had a good session out there Catherine and oh more planting space - what joy :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. More room for planting is the best! I know you will fill it up soon. It looks like so much fun!

    ReplyDelete
  17. You've been busy! I saw on the news this morning that you were having a beautiful day. We had a nice one too, finally!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Catherine, Your yard and home look so pretty. Here in Georgia's heat, our red clay gets like cement by June - like you, I love to weed after a lot of rain - it makes the job so easy. Nice to see some bare spots for you to fill with new plants. Enjoy the weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  19. More gardening space, yay! Your garden looks so charming.

    ReplyDelete
  20. At the rate you weather is behaving, you will have everything back, filled in again. It looks great right now.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Catherine, you got a *lot* accomplished. The edging looks so nice now. It didn't look bad to me before -- but once I saw the new and improved version, I could see that, yes, it was a bit uneven before. :) All that new soil and space must be a thrill.

    I will keep that in mind about digging up grass after a rain; I'm currently trying to needle F. into digging me a tiny extender bed in the side yard, just because no amount of gardening space is ever enough!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow, Catherine! It's looking great in your yard. (It always has, but you'll probably appreciate the job of evening the lines when it comes to mowing the lawn!) I love the hummingbird, too. Whenever I see it, I think to myself "Catherine!" ;-) Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  23. [Jump, Jump]! Fun time! So much space to fill in with new babies! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Catherine I loved seeing this vierw of your front garden ! and I think we share the same bricking stones : ).. a neutral base to play with .. it looks like Spring is there and I have to say I am jealous girl !! .. You will have a beautifu FULL garden soon so I look forward to those pictures : )
    Joy

    ReplyDelete
  25. Looks good Catherine. I agree with removing sod when it's wet and dormant..I worked on an expansion all day yesterdy and can't wait to get back out there today!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. You are going to be so happy with more garden space. It is so fun 'finding' more space for more plants. Your large picture windows give you such a nice view of your gardens. I would be looking out the window every chance I could.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Catherine, What a treat to see all this growth in your garden. It makes me really look forward to the opportunity to work in my own garden (still a couple of months away, despite the fact that it looks more like late March or early April than February) and to the new growth on Spirea 'Magic Carpet' (a favorite of mine). -Jean

    ReplyDelete
  28. I appreciate all your hard work. My back hurts just thinking about all that moving of the edge stones!
    It looks lovely and I can see all your flowers blooming there soon!
    I have been working outside too. I finally finished getting things cleaned up in the front yard and side yard. Now hopefully tomorrow I can start on the back. There is a lot to get done! It is going to rain though so not sure it will get done tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  29. You have been sooooooooo busy and your edging looks great. It will look beautiful by the time all of your plants are spilling over it. Isn't this 60 degree weather fantastic? I'm just puttering a little at a time but Bob got my whole section worked up where I want to put alot of the seeds and starts I did. Hope these blasted freezes didn't hurt anything.
    We have our favorite 5 year old helping us this weekend and it's my daughters birthday so haven't been online much lately.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Yay for getting a project completed! Hasn't our weather been terrific?! I love weeding in the winter, sometimes it is dicey because some of the perennials aren't up, but armed with the "screw driver" tool instead of my claw I minimize damage and maximize the advantage of weeding when the weeds don't suspect me coming along!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I can't wait for Spring to see your garden in full glory :) By the way, love the blue home, very quaint and cozy.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I knew I could pop over here and find a taste of spring. It looks just like that in your yard. Everything is so green! In contrast to the white & brown here. Darn it. It's been snowing here again for the last three days. I'm so over it.
    Anyway, your project looks great and hooray for more room! Maybe there will be space for all those new seedlings afterall. :-)
    ps love your new pond float.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Can't wait to see things growing green. The bones of your garden look great.

    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  34. It looks great for the end of Winter! Really good! This is usually the "ugly" time of the garden, I know it is for mine!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi Catherine~~ FINALLY. I'm so behind on blog reading. I like what you've done to the place. I had to laugh when I saw your shrinking lawn. Something tells me in a few years you won't be needing the lawn mower. :) I look forward to seeing your summer rendition of this area.

    You commented that I really space my plants close together. It's true. There's even a name for it: "cram-scaping." I do it for two reasons: I like the full look and because I'm a plant hoarder and there's only so much space.

    I can understand why you're not ready to part with your banner-hummer. This is an amazing shot.

    One more day of sunshine, they're saying. I'll take it.

    ReplyDelete
  36. You have done a lot of work! i think the edging looks very nice. Isn't it great to get out and work in the garden? I was able to do that the last couple of days. Your garden is looking much greener than mine, but I am seeing sings of life everywhere, so it won't be long! By the way, my vote is to keep the hummingbird header. And I would also like to thank you for your gracious comment on my Japanese maple post. have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Catherine,
    I so envy you getting outside and getting your hands dirty. ;) The new lines look wonderful. I really look forward to seeing this area bursting with blooms. That Spirea 'Magic Carpet' is truly eye catching.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I was very impressed with the transformation of your front border and also all the new planting area. What fun. Maybe you could do a photo of this border each month as your end of month view so we could see the progress?

    ReplyDelete
  39. You are one busy lady! Love it and I am so very happy about this weather we are having here! Feeling hopeful about the new season :)

    I really love your pesticide free sign... where did you get it?

    ReplyDelete
  40. dig the dirt - It's been great hasn't it?!
    I got the pesticide free sign at a meeting I went to, but I think you can order it through Washington Toxics Coalition if I remember right.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Boy you sure did get a lot done and I like the fact that it makes room for more plants. I like your hummingbird as a header too.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Things are looking great there! I like how you think-blank space for more plants. Your dog looks like a sweetie, by the way.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. I try my very best to answer any questions you may have, but usually don't have time to respond to each comment. Please leave a link to your blog so I can visit you in return.