We’ve been in this house a little over a year & one of the first things I did last year was get out in the yard during spring & start planting. This area next to the fenceline was just grass, so I dug it all out, amended the soil, & started adding some perennials. I was so proud of my efforts last year & really enjoyed all the blooms I got. The left pic is right after I planted & the right is a couple months later, when everything started filling in & growing. And, the bottom pic is today!My baskets were so lush & pretty (even though we had such a drought last year!) & I even surprised myself & kept it all watered. I sometimes have good intentions, but when the temps hit about 95* for days on end, my enthusiam wanes a bit. So, this year, I have been happily checking all my plants to see how they are all doing & they are doing great. I haven’t planted my baskets & planters yet, but here’s a peek at all the blooms that are a’bustin out in my little garden.
Blue pincushion Scabiosa & spirea (which I can’t find the name of right now..love the lime foilage) 
These perennial purple verbena have gone wild & I have to keep them cut back so they don’t smother the other plants.
Got the arbor painted black & installed it yesterday. I need to decide what kind of vine I want to put on it…any suggestions? This area gets mostly sun with some afternoon shade. I’m thinking an Armandii clematis. I had one at my house in GA & it did really well. Definitely want something that’s evergreen. Another thought is Carolina jasmine. I would hate to put something on it that gets too heavy for the arbor, since this arbor is not that hefty. You can see part of the backyard…ugly, hard clay that we have down here in the South. We have lots of plans for back here, but it will just take time and money! I want to do a flagstone pathway from this gate over to the deck area, where under the deck, we are going to put in pavers for a patio of sorts.
Don’t we all need a garden wagon? I picked this one up last year at a neighbor’s yardsale for $10. I was a happy camper, since that was on my list of things to buy. Really saves the back!
Here’s the BEFORE of the frontbed. I really would like to rip all the boxwoods & hollies out, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon, so I made do with ripping out these on the corner, adding a stonewall (which I built ALL by myself!) and planted some pretty new plants in here. I think you’ll agree that it’s a world of difference now!
Above 2 pics are right after I planted last year….and below is this year! Those double knockout roses are the bomb! They are already blooming like crazy. I originally planted 3 of them last year, along with some heuchera that you can see in the first pics. The heuchera didn’t do well, so I traded them in on 2 more knockout roses. The smaller 2 should catch up soon with the big ones.
Here’s the armillary I found yardsaling a few weeks ago…it looks so happy among the roses.
This small little area is to the left of our gate going to the backyard. It, too, was just grass when we moved in. I added this Endless Summer hydrangea last year & 2 hostas. Really livens it up with all the green going on. The hydrangea is loaded with blooms already.
So, that’s my little corner of the garden. We have so much to do, but I’m really very happy with the progress I’ve made since we moved in. These happy blooms make my day everytime I walk outside. Now, if I can only keep them all watered this year & we don’t have another drought!
Happy Gardening to all my friends…I look forward to seeing your gardens too!
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What a lovely yard you have. I especially love how you have “personalized” it and made it your own by adding those extra special touches. I am also so impressed that you built the stone border all by yourself . . . you GO GIRL!!
Thanks for the tour, Rhoda! I so enjoyed seeing all that you’ve been able to accomplish. Beautiful and inspiring!!
(Did you REALLY build that stone wall all by yourself? If you did, would you teach me how? I’m so impressed! To me, that is the definition of a Southern woman – resourceful and capable!
Have a lovely weekend… you and your garden,
Brin
http://www.messythrillinglife.blogspot.com
PS- Thanks for your encouraging comment on my blog yesterday. It meant a lot.
Rhoda, your gardens are just beautiful. I loved seeing all of your pictures!
Beautiful gardens, Rhoda. I’m enjoying your blog. It is fun to see you decorating another house and back into the yard sales! I have to tell you, I finally tried your banana bread recipe. My kids told me it was the best banana bread I ever made. I guess I have a new standard recipe! Thanks for sharing….
Kristen (from NY)
Rhoda,
Your garden is absolutely beautiful – you’ve done such an amazing job with it! I LOVE it!
Blessings,
Michelle
Rhoda, I love all the transitions you’ve made replacing the cookie-cutter landscaping that so many of us start out with. You’re a kindred spirit~doing all the labor yourself for some of the projects. It can be back breaking but isn’t it satisfying to see the results? It all looks fabulous!
Warmly,
Lallee
I love all you’ve done with your garden Rhoda. I know what hard work gardening can be – “a garden is a joy and a job forever”. You have certainly made your surroundings look lovely. Lighter weight vines for tha type of arbor such as morning glory and moonflower are pretty but they are annuals and will leave it bare in the Winter. A Carolina Jasmine is pretty with the white flowers, smells divine, stays green in the Winter, and is easy to keep under control, I trim mine back all the time. You could plant Jasmine on one side and annual morning glories on the other for Summer color – the blue and purple ones are so pretty. I’ll start them from seed soon to climb my front porch, mailbox post and back fence – love to have them everywhere in Summer.
Today DH and I prepared our veggie beds and we’ll start planting tomatoes, peppers, French beans, eggplants, cukes etc. first week in May.
I bought a load of plants (flowers) at a sale yesterday – proceeds go to help brain injured people – sun coleus, lantana, geraniums, mosquitoe plants etc., also the most beautiful Kimberly fern (huge) wich makes the Boston ferns look tiny! Tomorrow I’ll be outside planting – luckily the weather is fabulous.
Enjoy your weekend.
Mary.
Looks beautiful!
Where do you have the time? I am planning to get out into the garden~ after I check out my favorite blogs!
Your gardens are beautiful! I can’t wait to get out in ours. It is a couple weeks before we can safely plant in ground without worrying about a frost. The weather is just starting to warm up and tempt me, but I don’t want to chance it yet.