It too must go...

So this is what my front yard use to look like.A waste of space. Prime gardening real estate if you ask me.
When we bought this house a couple years ago there was gravel every where and barely any plants. Not a gardeners dream. The house I loved, the yard...specifically the gardening space, not so much. So at first Ryder built me some gardening boxes and I tried to be happy with just that. I really did, and they really are nice. But. But. Well it's just not enough. I took over the little side garden bed (the only one that had dirt in it instead of gravel) and I packed it full of plants. And I tried to be happy with just that. I really, really did. But this winter some thing snapped inside, and I cried out...Must. Rip. Out. Lawn! My husband got that worried look on his face, he half heartedly tried to talk me out of it. To no avail. It had to be done. A gardening freak must have a place to garden. And so the fun begins.

I think I might be driving my neighbors crazy. My front yard has been tore up all spring. Finally I'm almost done with the soil part. Now I have to get creative in how I am going to fill it on a serious budget. I researched lasagna gardening and although I didn't really follow it entirely I did follow the concept. I covered the grass with cardboard and then covered the cardboard with compost and soil. This will kill the grass and weeds under the cardboard and it brings a lot of worms who like the moisture under there. Everyone who loves to garden knows that worms are a gardeners best friend...ha, ha. I planted the bigger plants in holes dug through the cardboard and then I sowed some seeds on top. Lots and lots of sunflower seeds mostly. Course we are having a nasty summer this year and so they are not coming up very well. Bummer. The seeds were from sunflowers I grew last year and I really wanted them to do well again this year so I could harvest more but I guess only time (and weather) will tell.

I have so many great ideas for this space! I've been researching edible landscapes and companion planting and I'm getting so excited!! I might even put in a little stone patio in the back corner so that there will be space to hang out in the garden. I'm thinking about getting a peach tree, my neighbor has one and he gets a lot of peaches from it so I know they have the potential to do well around here. Something I never knew before. I already have an apple, a pear and a plum (that's never had a stinkin' plum on it!) so I'm thinking peach would balance it out nicely. I bought blue berry bushes last year and I think I've almost talked my husband into tearing out a section in our back yard (which involves removing cement) so that we can grow some raspberries back there. I drive him crazy, but he loves me any ways. Plus he know I can work some gardening magic. ;)

There is a path way in there somewhere.
This is how I like my garden, over grown and full of color.

Beautiful.

I just get such a peaceful feeling being surrounded by nature in it's glory. The colors, the smells, the lush greenery.

I planted an egg plant ((plant)) this year out front, I'm interested to see if I end up getting any egg plant. I just thought it looked nice with the purple and green that I don't really care whether or not I actually get any.
Although I do LOVE eggplant and it would be a super bonus to see some growing out there!

Ack...are these amazing or what!

This is the most wonderful rose I have ever come across. It smells magnificent and the color combo is perfect...if I could remember the name I would get more to fill in the front. It's lasted through a few moves with me and it keeps on going. It's also a really easy one to take care of which is a bonus in my book.

This might be my favorite corner of the garden right now, the color combination is perfect.

My favorite part of having a flower garden...the fresh flowers for the table all summer long. If I had enough property I'd have a nifty cutting garden just for fresh flowers, but for now I just sneak little bits here and there.

I know gardening isn't for everyone, but I thought I'd share a little bit of a love of mine with you. Everybody should have an outlet and gardening is certainly one of mine. I can't wait to see how far my front yard comes along by the end of this summer, I love seeing my ideas come to life!