Here are a few pictures of what we've done so far with our new home (purchased in December)...

This is our "woodland" shade garden. We destroyed the playhouse, built berms with the concrete materials to save money (stuff the town wouldn't pick up), and started a dry creek to control the spring runoff flooding.
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Here's the back corner where the playhouse was. We'll be planting sweet autumn clematis on trellises to cover the neighbour's shed.
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We also removed patio stones (plus about 10,000 tons of gravel) to create a garden bed next to our patio and around the maple tree:
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The only expense so far has been triple mix and a few tools. This weekend we'll finally be able to get some plants, as I'll capitalize on Mother's Day and my birthday. :)

It's coming along, slowly but surely. This year our yard will be completely transformed! Yay!

Wow--you guys have done a ton of work! I'm impressed. I particularly like the new bed around the patio, and the berm will give you a more private feeling. Way to go.

I'll post, too, soon--as soon as I figure out how to get the pictures off my new camera, that is. :) We bought a house last year... and it was a hideous blank slate, but it's coming along.

The pictures are a bit small to be able to see clearly, but it looks like you buried part of a tree trunk with soil to make your berm?