Oh my--you've worked so hard, obviously, Melissa!! I can't wait to see those hosta in a couple more years!!!
Very nice results!! Thank you for sharing it with us!!

Your play-set area--looks like you may have pea-gravel under it--is that right or what?

Looks like a ton of labor, but I'm sure it was worth it. Keep us updated as the area matures. I love to see how a garden changes over the years.

Queenie

i would have loved to seen whomever was on the roof.. since the deck rail is far below in one of the pix.... lol

better start looking close on these pix.. for the next bed site .. I THINK you are a bit overplanted .... and will be needing to move some stuff around... as they start to mature ....

and that is what god made generic roundup for.. lol

what i like best.. as with my garden.. the kids are incorporated directly into the garden ....

great work.. ken

wonderful garden!

Is that an oil painting that I see at the back of the garden? What an interesting idea!

Beautiful, Beautiful...thank you for sharing.
I love the line of the garden and can't wait to see what it will look like in a few years. Are all of the hostas different ones, or did you so some en masse?

Great job, Melissa. It looks lovely. Lois

You have been busy. I like what you have done and I agree with Ken that your hostas will be touching each other before long. I like that look myself and when they grow together the weeds don't grow.

Thanks for sharing.

Connie

Thanks everyone for your kinda comments:
hey_j: Yup, Pea Gravel. Gonna be a pain in the butt to get outta there in a few years... no wonder the next door neighbor gave it to us gratis!

Queenie: Yup, lots of labor. Less and less each year. In 2007 and 2008, I was a stay-at-home mom. This year, I went back to work... full time till a couple weeks ago, now part time. But in the last 2 years, I've dug no less than 350 holes for all those plants.

Ken: Thanks for your kind compliment. It means a lot coming from you! And yes, I am overplanted, especially on what was planted in 2007. I left a little more room last year and this year. I plan to expand the far left section, probably next year. I also have a slope coming off the path around the house.... tough to grow grass, so that's destined to be planted with 20-25 hostas. We'll see how long my wish list is and what needs to be thinned out. Oh, and you can BET that the playset area is gonna be planted with hostas within 5 years! And Mia (almost 3) loves the garden. Funny thing is that when she sees me in it, she says "Mommy, get outta there". She knows where feet are ok and not!
Nope, no roof. We have a 2 story with a walkout basement, so I was in an upstairs bedroom window. The deck is on the main level and the basement is below that.

tomahawkclaim: Not an oil painting... it's a 2x3 garden flag. Lightens up that dark corner and helps to mask my pile of busted up sod.

mary4b: There are a few duplicates, but not many. I'd happily give up the dups I have if someone would take 'em on trade. Somehow I don't think I'd get a Stitch in Time for a few Patriots, Royal Standards and noids!

Connie: Yeah, I fully intend to stop using mulch when they start growing together. I know that within 5 years, even then, I'll have to thin them out.

I realized I left out one pic.
This is the one from 2008:

Beautiful, Melissa. I can see the slab being incorporated into the garden at some point.

Paul

Melissa,

You have really been working hard but you can be proud of the results! I am currently busting clay and conditioning a new area, much smaller, for a new garden, so I know how much work it is!

Congratulations!!

christine

OOOH, good idea Paul!
I HATE that slab. It's so square and so in the middle of the yard! I've wanted to remove it since we moved in!

In fact, that, plus the big maple, plus about 3-4 more other trees (since removed, but visible in the first pics) AND the 3 trees still in the garden, on that line, it felt like our yard ended at that slab!

Say, when would you like to come down for a visit?
Henjum's sale is next week, maybe I can lure you down for that?

Looking great Melissa! And I'll just bet your little helper is growing as fast as your planting area. Joyce

Oh Joyce... she's getting SOOOOOO BIG!
She'll be 3 next week.

She loves "halping mommy". As I've been setting those step stones, she helps me dig out the dirt to put in sand. Then, she kindly brings me a shovel of sand from her sandbox!

I can't wait to take her to the arboretum again this year. She LOVES "fwowers". Here's my little luv-bug on 4th of July: