Lori, great job. I'm not a fan of ivy on houses. Just my preference. And

Neal, thanks for the compliment. I wish i had some before and after pics of my front yard of when i put the retaining wall in and planted and mulched everything

Why is it that dogs always look more comfortable asleep than I ever feel?

On a hard wood floor at that! Lol i can never sleep at all. I have insomnia like crazy

Dave, I love before and after pix. Sometime "the plan " isn't completely clear, just a work in progress.
This was my clean slate in 2008


A few of the Scots pines were diseased and had to be cut down.The stumps made nice pedestals for the bear and planters.

Catherine,
Best thing to do is Google zone 4 plants. I'm in zone 5a and sometimes it's tough to find for my area.

Dave,
Both dogs are beautiful!

Jo Ann,
That is a HUGE difference! Love that bear! Sharon mentioned it the other day :o)

Sally: I wasn't thrilled when I first saw the bear. My SIL gave it to my daughter for Xmas 8 years ago. I have grown to regard it with affection especially in the summer when she seems to stand in a flower meadow.

JO Ann,
Laughing, me and everyone else that saw it the first time raved over it! This was many years back. I never forgot it!

Sally, my taste is more ArtsyFartsy but the bear grows on me every year.
It isn't the worst thing to happen and it provides some balance when I need to step into that area.

yeah, @billyporter , Google is my friend. I wish I could find better winter/summer picks for an entry design....we have winter so long that deciduous trees/shrubs don't provide much interest. Have narrowed my choices down to serviceberry as a focal tree backed by winterberry at the foundation. Possibly underplant with geranium and some spring bulbs. The serviceberry is a nice 3 season tree and the winterberry has fairly long lasting red berries... or maybe some evergreens.....hmmmm, choices choices

So true Catherine. Long winters that seem to never end. And it sure does limit what we can plant.

I've decided to forge ahead on my entry garden installation after my disappointment with the garden designer. (He did get back to me a month after I'd emailed him about the plan and a request to just purchase the tree and labor prep/installation...a month....). So this morning I've had 10 yards of mulch dumped on my driveway (where I can't avoid it). I've also found a couple to help with the heavier and more tedious garden chores (100 feet of hedge trimming, removal of a half dead tree, clearing the north tree line etc.). They aren't the least bit offended when I tell them they aren't to touch (or step in) my flower beds and borders. YAY!. Next up for them is power washing the house and deck.

I'm hoping (for real this year) to restore my gardens and to have a productive vegetable garden again. And to create a simple, welcoming entry garden that will be interesting all four seasons. Today I hope to find my focal tree. Plant shopping is my favorite kind of retail therapy...



The front border in better days

Jo Ann,
Using the bear for balance made me smile!

Catherine,
My neighbor has a service berry. I want one, but have no room.I 'll just enjoy hers.
You have a lot on your plate and are lucky to find help!
We all have those better days pictures and then wonder how it changed so much.
That is beautiful!!

Beautiful, Catherine. Have fun making your plans and dreams come true.

How lucky you are Catherine to find workers that actually listen! Beautiful front border you had. I hope you can have something just as beautiful soon.

A friend and I are planning a trip to Hornbakers the end of the month! It's a 2 hour drive for me, but I never leave empty handed!

I am lucky this year Rose - by the way Hornbaker's open house days (SALE!!) are June 10 - 12 this year. I do love a great nursery sale. There a couple of new lunch spots in Princeton too (4 and 20 on South Main, Myrtles Pie on N. Main). And there's a new shop called The Makery - handmade items by various vendors.

Gosh, I should do a Gardener's Guide....a day's worth of garden nursery visits interspersed with restaurant recommendations and optional assorted retail therapy .....hmmmmm

This is when we moved into our house.


Last summer project

Good job! I like the look of the retaining wall and the absence of the small stones. Lots of work involved in that one!

Nice job! Will look even better once the shrubs mature and fill in a bit. Great choices for color, too!

Dave,
What a huge improvement without having to go drastic. I love it!

And, that Catherine is why we are going the end of May! I've been there during their hosta walk... I felt like I was in a conga line while trying to look at their beautiful display gardens! You don't dare stop or you'll get run over! There are chartered bus groups coming in to view the gardens. I don't think the sale is worth the crowd! We enjoy walking casually around and taking notes on what we need in our gardens.

If anyone is ever on interstate 80 and see an exit for Princeton, il, exit and take a little tour of Hornbakers! You won't be disappointed!