AT THE REQUESTOF SOME

    At the request of some of my friends and blog followers, I am going to peck out a few more entries to this blog.

    Since I stopped posting on a regular basis some time ago, there has been progress on our house and, more notably, our yard.  For close to 2 years I put down my power tools and picked up my shovel and mattock, rake and pitchfork.


Hardscape was added and our antique brick got new life as colums and a circular planter.

The only plant life worthy of salvaging were the azaleas, the magnificent Magnolias, 2 tremendous maples, an old pecan tree, a very large holly and, of course, the bamboo!

 
    Heavy equipment took out years of brush and weeds, and I designed some curves into the landscape to soften the squareness of the large patio/basketball court.

My daughter and I tote water to the garden behind the garage,
at least until we get the rainbarrels connected.

My son gifted me with yardwork last Mother's day. This included
digging out the original but long neglected pond in the back yard.

 All this happened 1 1/2 years ago.  I've been digging and planting ever since.  Good thing I love it so much!  We now have grass and loads of plantings.

There is more to come.  Keep an eye out for more recent photos and coments.

LOOK WHAT HAS SURVIVED

Look what has survived not only the transplant of 1 year ago, but also the harsh winter....

My lilac has begun to bloom.

Look what has survived years of neglect.  After the yard crew stripped the side yard of all the weeds and overgrowth this past fall, there remained nothing visible but dirt.  .....And then spring arrived and this unusual flower appeared.....

A lovely little flower called a trout lily.

TRANS-ING

Over a month ago I mentioned transplanting my old yard.  To be accurate I was not transplanting I was just trans-ing.  The plants have been forced to live in garbage bags, ceramic pots and plastic containers since then.  

Korean boxwood, strawberry geraniums, lily of the valley, daisies, curry plant, hosta...

More boxwood, Lenten Rose, peonies, veronica, lavender.....

Slowly, very slowly, I have been planting them in what I have begun to refer to as 'foster homes'.  You see, our yard is not to a point where I can provide permanent homes to all my 'trans' plants.  Much of the yard looks like this..... 

North side

an like this....

South west side
Note: the leftover 4'x8' luan used to protect the floors during restoration now is our promenade to the garage

I have begun a small project in order to get some plants in the ground before the blistering summer settles in.  This spot on the shady north side of the house is to be a patio of irregular bluestone edged in  broken antique brick .

The small patio is off the screened porch

                                                          

Broken bricks outline the patio and crevices between stones are spots to snuggle in some foot-friendly plants

                                                              

Hosta, Helleborus, Aquilegia, and ferns find new soil to their liking

(Eddie, do you recognize the red, rope-handled watering can from your cottage outside C-ville?  It's my favorite one but it's yours if you want it back.  How did I end up with it anyway?)

DIGGING AND DIVIDING, TRANSPORTING AND TRANSPLANTING

In my back yard on Hawthorne Avenue...

                                        tucked away in the bamboo.....

A real jungle gym

As we prepare our house on Warren Road for the market, one job is to clean up the yard.  Two years of neglect have made it a more trying task.  I have been digging and dividing perennials for days and have transported the plants to Hawthorne Avenue  making some efforts to keep the transplants watered until beds can be dug.  

Helleborus - Lenten Rose

   

A lilac barely fits in the rear of the car for the trip

Ferns, Ajuga,  Acuba, daisies, boxwood, veronica, heather,  Helleborus, Wisteria,
Irises,  Daffodils, Curry plant and more......awaiting a fresh bed at a new home

MORE FIGS

In Norfolk at my parent's house the figs are not ready until July.  Surprised that the figs on my tree here on Hawthorne Ave. are so plump now, and eager to get at them before the critters do, I tried one that looked and felt close to ripe. It will be a little longer before we are eating figs.

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION

Eager to make the house a bit homey and inhabited looking, I planted some pansies in some pots for the front steps.  When I searched the side yard for broken clay tiles to place in the bottom of the pots, I came across this iron frog partially buried in the mud.

With several pansies left over, I scrounged up some old slate from the yard, made a simple border, and planted a half dozen plants by the sidewalk.  Just a small effort to pretty up the place.

Not 12 hours later, a dumpster was delivered......
So much for my neighborhood beautification efforts!