Work in Progress

18 years ago

Hi There

Hope everyone is having a great new year so far. IÂm busy plotting and scheming plans for summer and wanted to share my pictures and story as well as get some input on what to plant/do in certain areas of the yard.

Here is our work in progress. "Our" is myself Kelly and Brad who is quite possibly the best guy on the planet!

To make a long story short...

We bought the house in the fall of 05 which was devoid of any plant life except for the mature trees in the backyard. The front yard (the beach) used to have a forest of Pine trees that the previous owner had removed and is pure sand. It was too late for us to move my plants from my previous home, so come spring 06 we had to dig, move, divide, and transplant a Cube Van and several Â½ tons full of plants over several different times from 2 different places. What a job!! Trying to keep everything alive in tubs, bags, containers, etc was a real challenge let me tell you. Also had to put up fencing and define and dig where flower beds would be built.

So then.....

Unfortunately, as summer progressed, many of these plants needed to live in real dirt so we had to start planting things in areas where yet to be built flower beds would be....had to build an ugly holding bed on the side yard in the fall of 06... I am torn between putting up a garage/greenhouse combo in that area or the fence with the gate and the pond to waterfall to pond fantasy ...still no lawn in the front as we are still adding plantings (desperately seeking advice on what to do in much of this area) ...deciding what to do about sidewalks and decks/patios...pending house addition...On and on and on and on.

Nothing is holding me back...except for time and money....lol

Anyway, I have added 100Âs of unedited (can someone recommend a photo editing software that can do weed eating, move the hose and other junk out of the way, add a nice lawn...?) photoÂs of the first 2 years of our 5 to 10 year project for anyone who would like to see how "not" to do things...lol

I am still in the process of adding photos, 2006 is done and am working on 2007...Now thatÂs a process that can make a person crabby! Very time consuming, especially when you upload them all the wrong size the first time!

Will work on deleting and also naming and putting descriptions on them but for now have a look at the good, bad and the ugly!

Hopefully attaching a link to my Photobucket albums...

Happy Gardening

Kelly

Here is a link that might be useful: Photobucket

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Comments (7)

marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
18 years ago
What an amazing transformation! I can't wait to see the rest of what you've done, and maybe even to see it in person in the spring. You done good!
shootingstar2
18 years ago
Kelly,
Wow what an amazing amount of progress you have made. I love all the pop bottles. Where 'bouts in NW Ont are you, I'm in T-Bay.

Cathy
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kellyrae
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks Marcia
Of course we'll 'tour' in the spring!
Cathy...Marcia lives outside of Thunder Bay and comes for an "enabling greenhouse tour" in the spring. V-Wees, Gale's, My Desert...etc. We'll have to post a Thunder Bay Sring Visit message soon to pick a weekend. Lot's of other great gals as well..so if you're lurking, please pop in for a post.

I'm still trying to upload my 2007 summer pic's but Photobucket is not playing nice in my sandbox!

Ke
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
18 years ago
The weekend will be the last one in April because that's the weekend of my dad's concert (Fort William Male Choir). Gale tried to get hold of you last spring, Kelly, but i guess you weren't home.

Photobucket can be a major pain at times!
valleyrimgirl
18 years ago
What a lot of work you have done already! Yes, keeping plants in pots alive is always a challenge. I divide extras out of my flowerbeds in spring while cleaning up and then keep them alive all the rest of the summer until they sell at the local farmer's market.

Kelly, what is the name of the pink veronica you have pictured in the 2007 pictures? It looks like it stands about 2.5' tall. I like it!

Brenda
glen3a
18 years ago
Kelly, isn't it neat though to take a landscape, basically devoid of any plant life and make it your own? It's sort of an art. As for the plants you've moved, or will move another time, give them a few years to recover and they'll probably look great. Some corners of my yard I changed a few times over a few years before I decided I liked the way it looked. Even now, I have to re-do some things, move plants, etc. so a garden in a sense is a constant changing thing.

As for plants that might not make it, I used to worry about such things now I basically have the attitude that if a plant doesn't survive, well it's time to try something new.

I know it's a lot of work and sometimes you may think you're in over your head, but come a nice summer or spring day it's sort of therapeutic to force yourself to sit back and appreciate what you've accomplished so far.

Good Luck,
glen
kellyrae
Original Author
18 years ago
Well then...could it get any colder?
Yikes -24c
Plus wind-chill = -donÂt go out unless you have to!
Thanks for the compliments. WeÂre really proud of the work that weÂve done so far. The downfall is that we also like to go to camp (gardens and nice lawn there...that also needs to be mowed and weeded) take fishing trips and travel in the summer to visit relatives.

Actually, last summer we did just that. Smelt the roses so to speak.

But, this coming summer is a "giver" kind of summer. If I want to post pictures with questions to get some opinions about certain areas in the yard, should I put them here or on the gallery? I am going to try to put names/descriptions on my Photobucket albums...sorry for making them so large. Many of the pictures were taken for future reference flashbacks.
Anyway, I am seeking your kind criticism and advice to help us refine what weÂve done so far.
House renovation is the biggest hold for future garden plans....5-10-15 year plan?

Marcia, the weekend of the 30th sounds great. IÂll give Gale a call this week.
Have you heard from Margaret or Danni?

Almost done up-loading garden 07 pictures...did I mention all suggestions welcome!!
The front yard is my biggest concern right now...decks and additions will be on the back and sides of the house.
We have added the pond "Canna bed" by the pole in the front yard and a couple of trees so far.
The sidewalks are all going to be changed and the grade raised by about a foot or so.
We have great neighbours across the street, but would like to block the view of their houses....as I mentioned, suggestions welcome!
Thanks,
Kelly