house proud: the landscaping, before & after (2012)

For those who talked to me last summer, you probably heard that I was 'working on our landscaping' 

or even better 'still working on the landscaping'. 

Here is the before:

Dead stumps & overgrown ivy & weeds around 3 sides of the house

Ick.

And Here it is as it transforms throughout the Summer months of 2012:

Step 1: Pull out the ivy/overgrown landscaping. 

Step 2: Tackle the Shrubs blocking the windows 

(and as you can see, 'trimming' did not work.. )

Step 3: Create mulch beds.

Step 4: Plant! 

Step 5: Give the porch a little attention.
Add chairs, seasonal decor, give porch a fresh coat of paint
& paint the front door red!
(perhaps I even painted the door-knocker to match the other hardware)

Step 6:  The Fences in the Back. 

One falls... and one stays standing (& gets flower boxes).

Before the take-down & weed & ivy elimination:








After:

Step 7: Tackle the rest of the backyard and add new light fixtures.

Step 8: Remove the stone edgers.

Step 9: Create a firepit

Tada! Just kidding.

Step 10: Let it grow!