So, today I’m back with the before and after shots of the house. This time I’m going way back to when I first bought this house 2 years ago. Those are the true Before shots and will give a totally accurate view of what I was dealing with in the front yard. A house that had never been landscaped or given any love at all in the front yard. The only thing I had going for me were 2 cherry trees and a beautiful pink dogwood. The middle cherry tree was half dead and growing into the dogwood, so I opted to just have it cut down so that I’d have a clear view in the middle of the yard and that was the best decision I made. This created a nice under planting opportunity for all of these blooming shrubs that went into my yard, giving it a cottage feel that I just love.
If you missed yesterday’s post with the in progress shots of the landscaping going in, you will want to catch up on all of that.
Southern plants are wonderful and I have long loved hydrangeas (truly my very favorite flowering shrub) and azaleas are a staple in Southern yards too. I grew up with them and have had them in all my yards since my first house. My parents have azaleas in their yard too. Gardening and planting flowers has long been a love of mine too and I’m finally getting back to those roots that I love so much. I’ll be piddling around in this garden for a long time to come, I’m sure. Watching it grow and change will be so much fun in the next year or so!
So, let’s go back to the beginning. Remember this look? Ahhhh yes, I sure do! Here’s a shot from 2 years ago with the middle tree still there.
And this one was after the tree was cut down in the middle, before the front porch was built. Oh, you poor little plain house. You need some help!
And here’s the AFTER!  Wow, isn’t that pretty incredible from 2 years ago til now?
I can hardly believe it either. Doesn’t look like the same house.
I took lots of pics in different light to give you all a good idea of how it looks. This was during cloud cover.
This was sunny Sunday morning.
Front yard bed with camelias in the corners and those are gardenias in middle. When the sod goes in, no more dirt will show and that will be nice too.
These are the Angyostar vines on the trellis, which will eventually cover those trellis forms. I think this solution is a good one for a floating fireplace like I have. It might take awhile for the vines to cover, but that’s fine, I can wait. I left the left side open to be able to get to the hose back there.
Sunny morning shot of the pink dogwood bed. You can see how great it looks since they removed lots of low growing limbs.
Good shot of the front of the house in the sunshine.
Front porch with a beautiful view now.
Right bed under the pink cherry tree.
Another view of that bed with pinestraw in place. It will look so great once the sod gets in over here too.
Mailbox with 3 Loropetalum Emerald Snow and a clematis.
I just love clematis on the mailbox, so I picked this one up at Lowes.
Baby Gem boxwoods lining the walkway.
Front bed by the house.
Low growing shrubs by the house and these will only get 2 to 3’ high or so. One camelia anchors the corner and will get taller.
These beds have lots of azaleas and hydrangeas.
And here’s the problem area that is left. This is where a small retaining wall will go with pea gravel below where our tires will roll by the driveway, coming out of the garage.
One more shot of the beds and you can see the curves it has. Love those curves! Beds should always have curves for interest.
Fatshedera Angyo Star on the trellis. This is a beautiful variegated evergreen vine and looks similar to ivy. Carmen said this should take over these trellis forms in a few years. It’s not a fast growing plant though.
Gardenia Jubiliation
Baby Gem Boxwood
Encore Azaleas
Dear Delores Hydrangeas
Agapanthus Queen Mum
Pittosporum Mojo
Encore Azalea white
Pieris Mountain Snow
Loropetalum Emerald Snow
Delta Jazz Crepe Myrtle
Spirea Little Bonnie
Early Bird Crepe Myrtle
So, that is most of the plants that went in my yard, I think I covered them all. I’m sure all of these are tried and true for the South, so you can’t go wrong. You can find Southern Living plants at Lowes and Home Depot both, so check them out when you get a chance.
And don’t miss my beautiful friend, Carmen over at the Southern Living plant site too. She has lots of fun videos showing her favorite container gardening tips and she is so creative.
You can bet I’ll be sharing updates of my beautiful front yard all along the way. I can’t wait to watch my garden grow!
Wow, wow, wow, Rhoda! Such a huge difference! I love how the front bed is curved a bit – so pretty. And I love all the plants you chose – of course, hydrangeas are my favorite! Fab job, girl!
Outstandingly gorgeous!
Just amazing – I can hardly believe it is the same house and front yard!
Rhoda, your yard is beautiful! Your new plants are the crowning jewel to your home! You have worked so hard throughout this process! I’m thrilled that Carmen helped you with your yard! Everything looks gorgeous!
What a transformation to your home and yard! Looks absolutely beautiful!!!
Beautiful transformation!!! For those of you that can’t afford to buy all these plants you can do as I do. I go to my local Lowe’s on Wednesday when they are thinning out the plants that look sick. A few weeks ago I brought 3 hydrangea plants for .50 cents each originally $15. They just needed some love and are looking really healthy now. Last week I was able to pick up some tropical plants for the porch for $3 each originally $25 and cut off the bad and they are looking really good. Most of my front yard hostas and bushes I brought this way also.
Ab-so-lute-ly fabulous! God is GOOD!
Barb
Carmen did a great job designing this garden for you. Everything is just beautiful and will be a real asset to your home. So glad you have an irrigation line to keep everything watered. Enjoy!
It all looks so wonderful. I can already smell them!! The gardenia’s and all of them will be heavenly!! Enjoy. I just moved into a really small condo(977 sq. feet), and I don’t have any outdoor space. I really hate that. The landscaping though for the condo is very nice. At least I have that to look at. Your whole house is just beautiful!! Thanks for the post. Now get some sweet tea and ENJOY!!!
Just beautiful! Your home looks great, Rhoda!
I love your solution to the floating chimney. That’s a genius way to make it look right. Good for you, Rhoda. It’s all lovely.
Oh my goodness, Rhoda! I’m just catching up from a long absence from your progress because I have been busy doing to other folks’ yards what Carmen has done to yours! Don’t you just love it! Thanks for sharing your plant list. I love seeing the selections of other designers…just so I’m not missing out on some great plant! You are going to love the transformation, especially in the next several weeks. And, great job, Carmen! You have done our profession proud!
Cass, I do the same thing! There are always plants in that section that just need a bit of TLC to rebound. Rhoda, you did an awesome job. I, too, absolutely ADORE hydrangeas and ordered some last spring from a mail order catalog. They didn’t die, but didn’t do much of anything. This year I pulled two of the sickliest ones up and potted them and am just pouring the water on. They are finally growing and looking beautiful. So drown those babies to get them to grow!
Terri
Lovely! When I was doing my front & back yards, I made a point of taking a photo (or 20) of the house on the same date for years. It’s fun to look back at those shots now. As any gardner will tell you, plants come and go, some WON’T go and nature has her way with the rest.
Rhoda I have been reading your blog for a while now and have written you a few times. I have watched how you have come from the depths of despair and have been amazed at how you maintained such a humble and positive attitude Your faith in God was evident to everyone and that was a blessing to see in you everyday. I watched as you transformed this house into a beautiful home. I can say that I have been amazed at your energy. Now today you have a lovely home anyone would want to live in. I am blessed to witness how God has blessed you. He IS sovereign and does still bless those who are faithful and this was evident in you every time you gave Him credit. I am so happy for you. Truly you have risen out of the ashes into a wonderful blessed woman. And I say good for you. I’m so happy for ya
Thank you, Carole! That really sums up my story so well. Thank you for being a part of my journey, I do feel so incredibly grateful every single day.
Just BEAUTIFUL! So inspiring!
Halleliujah is all I can say!
It looks wonderful. We are in the process or redoing our front beds. Would you share how they are arranged in the beds against the foundation?
I’m so darn happy for you Rhoda. In two short years you’ve tuned this into a lovely home with a yard you can be so proud of. You’ll be an inspiration to the neighborhood to show ‘owners pride’ and maybe they’ll spruce things up too. You’ll have so much fun puttering in that yard. I can’t wait to see those new windows go into your den….what a great idea!
I’d like to make a suggestion based on experience. Get you some fat black zip ties at Lowes and tie those trellises to each other so that the pattern stays lined up. It will keep them from getting loose and wonky crooket over time.
How pretty! All my favorite shrubs and flowers, especially hydrangeas! It’s so much fun to watch everything grow. You’re going to love your new yard!