What lucky soul got these plants. Strange thing about priorities.

In terms of labor, was taking care of the "before" state more or less labor? I like them both, but the "after" picture seems like it would be a lot more work to maintain.

Nice how you were able to keep the space so inviting with a fraction of the plants. Your winter transformation is inspiring..... and a bit humbling when I consider the much more modest projects we have lined up.

Bravo! Your before and after pictures demonstrate the truth in the adage, "Less is more.". Now if I could just adopt it myself. Oh well ... :-)

Was all the hardscape already there? I actually like the look of the after better than the before, but I think that's because of the camera angle and distance. The after is taken from further back.

I have wondered how people with large gardens keep them weeded, especially when I see pictures of yours and roselee's gardens. Seems like all I do is weed and still have a big, weedy mess in several beds.

Do what I do, marti8a ... learn to love weeds. :)

Ran across your before and after photos, Jim. What a nice, manicured space now. Can you come and do my garden??? :) I'm trying to downsize my garden before trying to sell our house and it is hard!
Marcia (in PA)

I garden amongst the weeds. Different look. Hats off to you. I think I heard on the perennial forum that in England a 1/4 acre is the most that one can intensely garden. More land...something has to give. We all have our limits. Hats off to those who have things under control. I bet it starts filling up again in a couple of years. It is easy to change the garden but hard to change the gardener. LOL. I bet the lure of the new and beaurtiful will fill her up/

Jim, as much as I admired the "old", I like the "new" a lot better. Your garden is always reflective of your labors of love, and I know you will enjoy some time off with those precious grandkids. But in the final analysis, if you are pleased with it, doesn't really matter what the rest of us think. Now, go fishing !!!!

I like the 'after' garden better as well! I hope you get to relax on the bay.

Wow, you've been busy. I like the new as well but what did u on do with the plants, lol

Thank you all. I moved the soil to the other beds, probably had 6 yards, and moved as many plants as I could find space for. I donated a full truck load of plants, plus two wagon loads, to the local garden club for their annual spring plant sale. The money they raise, is used to maintain the landscape at the little museum home here in town. I probably have enough border stones left to replace the treated boards on my driveway bed. I bought 387 sq. ft. of sod, and had 4 sq. ft. left over.

I think that I'm going to like it.

Jim

I like the BEFORE picture much better! The AFTER picture looks like a genocide occurred. Imagine a whole family of birds and butterflies now wandering off to starve to death because their habitat has been obliterated.

That's cool that you donated your plants Jim, I knew you didn't toss them, lol

I know that is just a small area that won't have beds and how nice to have an area to sit and look at the rest of your many gardenssss. A big plus, fishing with son and granddaughter!!

I love it

Many of us like that look, but as I stated previously........................all that really matters is if Jim likes it.

Jim, I really admire what you've done, value the fortitude it took, and have appreciation that you donated your extra plants. That takes a lot more time and trouble than to just trash or compost them.

Above Marti wondered how people with large gardens keep them weeded. My garden is not so large, but I do have a lot of beds. Weeds are not much of a problem because I use a thick layer of mulch in the beds. With mulch, mostly oak leaves that I collect curbside from my neighbors, seeds landing on top have a long way to go before their roots find some soil.

I have more trouble with keeping gravel weed free. Even with fabric weed block beneath the gravel the tree seed roots have no problem penetrating it. Perhaps the gravel needs to be deeper.

Jim, what do you do to prevent weeds?

Jim, all of your garden photos have always looked amazing, and the after photo is no exception. Enjoy the extra time with your family.

Jim, you are loved and admired by many friends on this board! Pay no mind to me and forget what I said about the lonely, hungry, cold dying birds. :)

Amazing work, Jim! Love the after much more! Thanks for sharing!

s8us, I get your drift. You appreciate wild places places where natural life can flourish ... :-) For instance, clear cutting a forest is not a good idea. Probably most of us feel the same. And like Jim's does our gardens provide lots of bushes and vines where birds build nests and find insects, butterflies can nector and lay eggs, and our gardens also provide places and plants where polinaters can find food and cover.

Awesome!

I would say that Eric's yard is probably closer to before than after with many places for wildlife to roam, hide and nest and burrow. He has also a larger space . We all have different philosophies and personal likes and wishes for our yards and our time. I commend Jims recognition of wanting to spend less time tending his garden to spend it with his favorite "wild one". There ones amongst us that will pick up the slack I am sure. I just saw a wild turkey in my yard. I plan on building another water table and tank for them this year . I will dedicate it to jim.

I did not mean to indicate judgement of anyone's garden or style. I think the main purpose of a garden, as Mara has stated, is to provide enjoyment for the gardener. What I was trying to say was that even a lawn or area of hardscaped surface can contribute to the quality and variety of habitat in a garden if balanced with trees, shrubs and planted areas.

wow! that was a lot of work!

Tally, was that work you speak of on your end or his? ... :-)

not mine lol!

I missed the bird pictures. They are great Eric! I've never seen an owl out during the day, and I've never seen a snipe before.

roselee, I have been mulching some beds, using the lasagna method with cardboard boxes, and it has worked really well for a couple of years and then the weeds and grass seem to find the places where the cardboard overlapped. It's my plan to expand those beds and put down more cardboard and mulch. But I still have more yard than I want to mow. Well, I don't want to mow any of it actually.

your garden, as usual, is lovely and i probably needed this message....
if you could begin again -before all the plantings- would you do anything to make your garden easier/less time consuming? (other than keeping it smaller)

There's something to be said about simplifying. Do what works best for you!