For those interested in the house updates…

I’ve been working on the backyard whenever it’s been warm (and dry) enough.  It didn’t even get close to finished last year since 1) I focused mainly on the front yard and 2)  Any time I did spend back there was usually spent ripping overgrown brush and dead bushes out before there was any chance of putting anything in.

Here are the before pictures.

This is by the shed. The broken concrete led to a handy dandy gas grill, complete with wasp nest.

To the right a little, with more broken up concrete.

And, moving further to the right. Notice the lovely (broken) air conditioner unit hidden behind the (ugly) fence section.

And even more to the right..

Beautiful.

Now, the after pics. I used the unbroken cement squares and made a checkerboard pattern. Weird, but the kids like it.

I extended the bed to go all around the tree.

Late last fall, the Green Stewards guys got rid of the air conditioner unit and put in the patio and little walkways. I’m wanting to plant espaliered apple trees along the brick wall.  I’m also thinking I’ll plant tomatoes and peppers under the windows, or maybe bush cucumbers, since it gets lots of afternoon sun there.  I can envision containers of strawberries too.

We found tons of patio stone and bricks half buried and covered by grass, brush and ground cover. I reshaped the beds (managing to save some groundcover) and re-laid a small patio edged with the found bricks. On the center stone, I want a fountain. I left some dirt to plant flowers or something around the fountain, again using leaf compost to build up the soil.

What a difference one year can make..

Our gardens did so well this year, even though we had a late start.  We planted only two zucchini plants, but we still have more than enough!

The basil is as tall as Carmen. Pesto, anyone?

A few months ago, Chase made his own worm composting bin. He layered shredded paper and food scraps from our kitchen, and added Red Wrigglers we ordered online.

It didn’t take long for the worms to create their magic, and all the garbage became rich, nutrient dense compost! After separating the worms from the compost (tedious and dirty work) he returned the worms back to their bin to repeat their work. He even had enough worms to add another worm bin.

A couple beds of broccoli and brussel sprouts are the victims of hungry slugs.

This is the damage they cause, before they eat the entire plant.

Skylar did some internet research to find natural ways to combat slugs, and made some traps to set in our gardens. She took shallow pans, filled them partway with beer, and set them in the dirt. A couple sites said to also sprinkle a little yeast over the beer. She prepared them that evening, since slugs come out during the night and early morning. We were eager to check the traps the next morning.

I would say that they worked.

Beer Slug Soup, anyone?

Weeds don’t stand a chance.

Not with Robb’s new fire-breathing smoke-belching thingybob.

With our many stone paths and patios, weed control is a potential problem and it can be tempting to resort to harmful chemicals.

Now, weed control has never been so much fun.

Finally got some plants in our potager garden.

A variety of vegetables and herbs, from Simple Times Farm and the Flint Farmer’s Market.

Also planted some hostas, fern, shrubs and a tree in our shade garden.

A lovely beast that I’m trying to figure out what to do with. Make a patio under it? What should I grow on it? (preferably something edible) Hmm.

And random pics of some of the children..

So if that would bore you, move along. There’s nothing to see here.

I had every intention of showing some old “before” pics so that you could get an idea of how much has changed, but changed my mind for a variety of reasons, the chief one being laziness. So use your imagination and picture a jungle of vines, thorns and overgrown shrubs. Everywhere. Then ripping all of that out and starting over.

This is to the right of the front door. We lined the edges of the path with salvaged brick. We need lots more brick. The dirt beds between the boxes contains 200 tulips.. if they survived the transfer.

Currently the boxes only have climbing roses, but they will soon have vegetables keeping them company.

This is to the left of the front entrance. Made a small flower bed beside the circle drive and edged it with salvaged brick.

Further to the left, I planted white roses along the sunroom wall. It will be nice when they fill in.

And just next to that, the entrance to our shade garden. Still a lot of work to do.

And look! New grass! Mah baybeeeees! There are large areas that are freshly seeded and I’m looking forward to the bare patches being gone.

On the other side of the house.

In the front of the property, down by the corner. Planted 9 azaleas and rhododendrons along the path.

Don’t know if you can see well enough, but the far side of the path will all be grass. Then there are 2 sections along the sidewalk that will be flower/vegetable beds.

Flowers by the front door.

And lots more plants, flowers and vegetables waiting to find their home.