In The Beginning...

In the Beginning...

A few weeks ago I started working on landscaping our yard at our new home. This is my first attempt at landscaping and gardening and I'm finding that I really enjoy it! It's hard work but it gives you such a since of accomplishment when you see it starting to come together.

Right Side of Driveway

I started by mapping out where I wanted flower beds using field stone found in our neighborhood after the builder had started construction on a new house.
It's really amazing how much good sized rock you can find like this and it saves a TON of money! The boulders on either side of the driveway were found when they dug our basement and the large boulder by the garage was on our lot and is one of the main reasons I picked the lot!
Yeah, I know, I have a thing for rocks! 

Lt Side of Driveway

Pulling up the sod is a messy job but luckily since our sod was still pretty new and hadn't had time to fully take so it wasn't that difficult to pull up.

On the other hand, the ground underneath the sod was solid clay and full of little rocks. I had to get a hand tiller and mix in several bags of garden soil to try and get it ready for planting. But several blisters and a soar back later the soil was usable!

The back of our SUV looked like a jungle! 

One thing that I wanted to do more than anything was drive down to Gosport Indiana to my family's farm and dig up plants to bring up and put in our yard. My grandparents always had a beautiful country garden with a variety of different plants and lots of color!

We were able to get Iris, Columbine, Bleeding Hearts, Peony, Sedum and Prickly Pear Cactus!

Prickly Pear Cactus

*Yes Cactus does grow in Indiana and actually does really well!!!


FYI it is NOT FUN to move! Three weeks later I still have cactus needles in my hand (yes I had leather gloves on). But the result is so worth it! And it's a fun conversation piece with the neighbors.
I can't wait till this blooms! It has beautiful yellow flowers!

Back Yard Bliss!

Our back yard faces a nature preserve which is the number one reason we chose this lot for our new home! I'm a country girl at heart and my husband is a city boy so this was our compromise and I couldn't be any happier with it!

We have big plans for a deck and poured concrete patio with fire pit next spring but for right now we are working on getting my shade garden in that borders the woods. 

Shade Garden

I am planting lots of hosta and other shade loving plants along the edge of the woods to make it look like our yard just continues into the tree line. 

Hosta, Sedum and Bleeding Hearts

I absolutely love Bleeding Hearts, they just make me smile! 

I was able to get a small plan from the farm but I am defiantly going to have to get more and different varieties! 

Well, I have lots more to share but it can wait til next time... Happy Gardening!