Reborn Interiors: April 2011

As some of you may know, last year we moved into a new house. After a grueling move following 6 long weeks of intense renovation (pictures coming soon), we were more than a little burned out. It has taken 8-9 months to muster the courage to tackle the yard.

This winter we began our landscaping adventures and I thought you all might want to see some of the pictures.

We started by planting a vegetable garden. As you can see, we had plenty of help.

We built 4'x8' planter boxes out of rough cut 12" boards and filled them with one part top soil and two parts cotton gin compost from a local guy who sells it by the truckload/trailer load. We got all we needed for our 3 garden planters for only $40.

Carter loves the owl.

Lettuce, cabbage, pepper, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes... An antique swing I picked up for $75. A fresh coat of white paint works wonders. This is where I sit while Julie does the weeding.

And herbs... We took advantage of an old stump close by, filled it with dirt and planted African basil, strawberries, sage, rosemary and thyme.

Strawberries!

We also planted some parsley by the trunk of our pecan tree.

Plants are growing, now on to other things... like a window box I built and planted with impatiens (perfect annuals for shady areas).

We found this old birdhouse when I pruned the Satsuma Trees in February. It got relocated near the workshop where it can be appreciated- not only by the birds but by us too.

Speaking of Satsumas, I also relocated this formerly dying Oak Leaf Hydrangea beneath one of our Satsuma trees and violently pruned it. After all, what did I have to loose? As you can see, it is VERY happy now in it's new home. I hope it blooms this year.

This hydrangea is already blooming. By the way, if you want your blue hydrangea to have pink blooms instead of blue, just add a little limestone around it. I like mine blue.

Blueberries! We planted 9 plants- 3 different varieties that should be ripening soon.

I also built this and planted a climbing rose on it.

New Dawn is its name... very prolific, fragrant, disease resistant, and it blooms from late Spring until late Fall! By Fall it should cover the 9' trellis.

A guy was selling these unfinished adirondack chairs on the side of the road. I couldn't believe how inexpensive they were! I painted them blue and distressed them. The oak trees helped me distress them even more. We will eventually pave this area with natural flagstone and add a fire pit... another project for another time :)