Our Yard

Posted on by Valeria

Our yard is my favorite spot to cheer me up. The perfect place to feel swept away from chaos. Also, to meditate peacefully. We live on about an acre, and our back yard is a clear rectangular field abutting other yards just as large, and a wooded area at the very end. It is quiet, private and green. A great place to relax or play, and really get away. Also, a wonderful place to see wildlife zooming by.

Over the past three years, we have completely gutted and redesigned the entire yard, front to back. I told you my house was a money pit. I don’t joke about that. This all started when we moved in, too. Our first hands on project was ripping up an 11foot x 15foot wall of dry and brittle Junipers blocking our house from the world. It was a lot of work, but the results paid off! And we never looked back, moving on to other spaces and ideas. We have spent so much time turning this space into what it is becoming now, and we might be coming to that point that we can enjoy it without feeling like we have to run out to Home Depot or Lowe’s to update something else.

A few shots of some work we have done to the yard:

After setting the patio, working on the lawn.
After setting the patio and path. The huge loom pile that my kids loved sliding down. We were about to get working on the lawn.
The fence my husband designed, the had someone create. A lot of work!!
The fence my husband designed, then had someone create. A lot of work!!
Another shot
Another shot of the yard, this is side yard, closest to the house. Prepped for loom.
We rolled out grass ourselves! A shot from middle of the yard.
We rolled out grass ourselves! Well, my husband and my former work friend Ron did. Thanks Ron! I helped for like an hour. A shot from middle of the yard.
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A view in front of the solar panels from this renovation. This doesn’t look like this any longer. Now it’s bustling with plants, herbs and flowers. YES!!
The stone work from the front we had built, the grass and plantings. First photo of it complete
The stone work stairs, path and wall from the front we had built, the grass and plantings. First photo of it complete
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The new retaining wall out front. Had gross railroad ties before that were so dangerous.
The garden under our tree near the patio.
The garden under our tree near the patio. My husband designed and built this area himself, including moving the giant rocks..and building that cute fountain. Which worked for one summer. hahaha 🙂

Each year, since the major renovations, we have added more to it, and still have more to add! But this year is the first year our labor is being seen paying off, as we are watching the flowering plants and shrubs coming to life for the first time! It made my day seeing the first blooms of Spring this year. The other upgrades have all been things that were not seen, so this is a big deal for me. Seeing the yard and gardens coming to life brings me joy. I love to see all the colors around me now, and all the buds bursting to bloom. Even with the blanket of pollen on top of them this week. :/ (This late Spring pollen is my enemy.)

Well. Took some pictures from around my yard that made me smile cause like I said, it’s finally paying off with what we are seeing. Today ended up being cloudy though, and though I washed the pollen off of the plants and flowers yesterday, the stuff is still falling everywhere. Tomorrow is going to pour, so that should help!

I will probably post again about my yard this year as the other plants and flowers bloom.

Wine and Roses
Wine and Roses
Peonies
Peonies
The first Peony I grew :)
The first Peony that opened. And the first one I grew 🙂
Cat Mint
Cat Mint
The first one yet!! SO SOOOO excited! My JFK Rose. :) SMELLS INSANELY BEAUTIFUL!
The first one yet!! SO SOOOO excited! My JFK Rose. 🙂 SMELLS INSANELY BEAUTIFUL!
Knock out Roses
Knock out Roses
The Large Pine Tree near the patio. I love this tree.
The Large Pine Tree near the patio. I love this tree.
Japanese maple
Japanese maple
Not yet bloomed Peonies
Not yet bloomed Peonies
Salvia
Salvia
My Thai Buddha
My Thai Buddha hiding
The now empty Robin's nest. I had so much fun with them in my window. Now what do I do?
The now empty Robin’s nest. I had so much fun with them in my rhododendron in the front window. Now what do I do?
She was quite the builder!
She was quite the builder!
Purple Bearded Lily
Purple Bearded Lily
My boyfriend Gordon, he follows me from window to door anytime i am outside. See me there in the reflection? heh
My cat boyfriend, Gordon Ramsey, he follows me from window to door anytime I am outside. See me there in the reflection? S’me, I was there for a second and he was crying for me. heh
Aren't they dainty?
Aren’t they dainty?
My husband's obsession and mess..Bonsai
My husband’s obsession and mess..Bonsai
Rock Messy with Pine Sap
The Rock under the large pine tree. It’s all messy with the pine’s sap. It’s kinda unusual in person to see. This pic doesn’t do it justice.
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Before the sun went out. Idk what these cute little blue flowers are called, but they make me so happy.
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Another Japanese Maple. This mound will be covered with mulch next week and have lavender and rosemary planted on it too.

A lot has been done, and more will be done.  But at the moment, things look great and we should be happy to rest this Summer!

xoxox

2 thoughts on “Our Yard”

    1. Thanks!! There is so much still to do, but the basics of safety and function are done. Just aesthetically speaking, more work needs to be done, but not this year! Lol

      Reply

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