Front Yard Update

When we got back from New York we had a week to work on a few projects at home. I got a truckload of FREE mulch delivered. I found out about a website where you could sign up for mulch delivered from local arborists. I didn't really know if it would work, but it did! And it really is a truckload! We have enough mulch for a lifetime. But hey, it was free! :)

I worked on the front gardens and got that nearly complete. It just needs a few more rocks along the edges to be done until the fall. It's so hot here that no one wants to go outside after 9am. It's looking really good though. I'm happy to say all the plants I brought from New York have transplanted nicely. I'm hoping they'll all come back next year!

While on a roll with the front yard, I cut down a scraggly, dead tree- with a handsaw! I felt pretty powerful. haha.

I tried to convince Lee to hook it up to the lawnmower and haul it out back but he didn't think that would be very safe. In the end my superhero picked it up and dragged it. I "helped." I was mostly there for moral support.

The front yard is shaping up really nicely. We are excited about it. You know how I love before and afters so just for reference- here it is on move-in day.

And how it looks today. 

Thus far we have power-washed the house, repainted the shutters, added plants to the gardens, enlarged one garden bed, cut down the scraggly tree and added a flag. :)

The bed that I enlarged will stay the way it is for this season. I'm amending the soil this year so that next year it'll be ready for planting. (It's pure clay right now.) The monkey grass surrounding the edge of the bed was pulled out from under those huge boxwoods. That is tough stuff! It has also transplanted nicely.

I want to add a few more seats to the front porch. I haven't decided if I want to do more rockers or a swing, or both. Right now all I've added is a flower stand.

The black-eyed susan's in from of the porch are starting to bloom. Those will fill in nicely and I'm glad I chose them.

Anyhow- we've made some progress in the front yard! It feels good to drive up to it. I always say, "Who lives in that cute house!?" We certainly love it here! It's been fun watching the transformations.