Donna's before and after

Cici has such a wonderful thread going of her hard gardening work and before and after, gave me the inspiration to show a few of my before and after.

After I became a widow in 1993, I decided to sell the 3 acres with the house that we had lived in for almost 50 years. I was really tired of living in the middle of an orchard, with no views. Took me three years to sell, but in the meantime I bought 5 1/2 acres up here in the hills, nine miles away. Nothing here but sagebrush and grass. I felt the best option for me was a manufactured home. The top (I think) photo is of the area where the house would be located, next are the four cement slabs just poured, that the three sections of the house will sit on, on cement blocks. The bottom photo shows the 3rd., section being moved into place.

I was at a friends house playing bridge, when I saw the three sections of the house coming down the highway. I said I'm out of here and got into my little lavender pickup and followed the trucks through town and up the 4 mile hill road to my location. That was about 3:00 pm by 7:00 pm they were in place so the trucks could leave. Took the work crew one week to jack the sections up and put the cement blocks under, fasten the three sections together, put filler, etc. and paint. rugs in place and all the other necessary finish work. I moved in June 14, 1995 Before the papers were signed I spent 3 months redesigning/changing and working with the company to try to get exactly what I wanted. Of course every change I made cost me money!!!! But even now after 10 years I am happy with my house and would not make many changes.

There is a great view of the surrounding hills from anywhere in the house or yard. However my shrubs and trees have grown perhaps too well in some areas and are blocking the view.

My daughter first said "Mom, why do you want to homestead at your age",, now when she comes from VA to visit she is happy for me.

DonnaS

I planted several trees in areas where I believed they would be best and still be out of the way for work crew, before anything else was done except the laneway carved out of the hillside. The only level area is the about 2 acres where the house is located.

Here are some pictures of the next year the top photo is southwest of the house, after the small area of lawn is growing . I have two small approx. 50 x 50feet sections of lawn, one in the front and one in the back.

Middle photo is of area back of house where i tried to establish a little meadow garden, it was not satisfactory so now that area is my woodland garden.

Since there were no trees, one of the first things to be built was my lattice shade house. I still use it but now the trees have grown so much that there is too much shade.

DonnaS

what a wide open space and love your shade garden esp. post more pics please. these pictures remind me of europe in a way. debi

Wow Donna, you've done lots of hard work! In the pic the meadow garden looks lovely; would love to see the woodland garden. Thanks for sharing. Neal.

Great site, Donna. I hope you'll show us some from a distance with all those trees.

Ann

will show some more photos later, because of suffering with diverticulits I don't feel like doing anything other than laying down. Dr. said if I had waited longer to come see him he would have put in hosp. Actually I almost called 911 during the night, but decided I could stick it out. Must go lay down a little longer. Sorry . DonnaS

Take care and rest, Donna. And let us know how your are doing.

Ann

Feel better soon, Donna. Enjoyed these photos and your story.

Thanks for your good wishes and I am feeling better since the antibiotics have kicked in. I will try to get myself organized and post some more before and after photos. Can't do anything outside as it is raining for which I am thankful.

This is an arial photo of the house to give a idea of early changes to topography. DonnaS

Donna--Your before and after pics are an inspiration for me and lots of fun to look at!

And I hope you will be feeling better soon...with diverticulitis you really have to take care and rest. My best to you so you can get back out there and enjoy your place. t.

Thanks Tabasco, I am taking it very easy, just don't feel like doing very much. It had been 4 years since I experienced my last bout with diverticulits, and hope it is longer before another.

Here is a much later view of the shade house, which really now is a very shady area. DonnaS

The middle photo of the second set of 3 scanned photos is of the area where I tried to develop a meadow, never worked, just couldn't keep the grass out. So decided to make a woodland garden. Started that remake 3 years ago . There were three trees in the area, 2 apricots and one dwarf peach. and oh yes a white fruited mulberry. All the rest are just 3 years old or younger, so really isn't a woodland garden yet, not much shade.

Here is a photo of the paths being put in place. Used the shredded poplar trees for the walkways. DonnaS

Here is approximately same view as previous, 3 years later. I expect to see quite a bit of growth on the Kentucky Coffee Tree , more or less center of photo, this year as the root system should be pretty well established now. DonnaS

Here are a couple of photos of the lily pools in the process of being built. My soil is very sandy so temporary forms had to be put in place to keep from caving. It took quite lone time to get them built. That was when I was having hip replacement operations so about all i could do was oversee. DonnaS

And here is a view of the pools this year. I used the dirt removed from the pools to make a berm on east end of pool area and a rock garden on west end. Donna

Hi Donna,

Glad you are feeling better. What wonderful pictures you share. Your setting is just glorious. Enjoy.

Ann

Oh, Donna, what gorgeous surroundings you have. Your place is situated in a gorgeous location and you've augmented it so skillfully. It's just beautiful!

Thankyou for the kind words. And yes this is a wonderful area. Have lived in this area all my life and really wouldn't live anywhere else. Have been to all but four of the states , quite a bit of Canada and Europe, and South America and still prefer this area.

DonnaS

Donna, the way you've so skillfully and quickly transformed that spot to such an oasis is wonderful! Very inspiring! Neal.

Neal, thank you for the kind words. I do like planning gardens. Drew all the areas out on 1/4 " grid paper before planting. DonnaS

Donna, your gardens are wonderful. Such a beautiful inspiration. Didn't think I had the patience to draw on grid paper but seeing your fantastic transformation inspired me to at least try it. Bought my first pad of grid paper in the hopes I might be able to get the past the random and haphazard look my entire yard seems to be taking on as a personality that I am not really liking.

You should be very proud of your hard work. It is lovely.

arachide, I love planning on grid paper. You may throw away some of your first attempts, at least I discarded quite a few sheets. One of the main things is to start with a definite place and measure from there. Mostly I used 1/4" equaling 4 feet, just do what ever works best for you. I did buy a few large sheets to use for large areas of garden. They are very handy to keep for reference. I mostly used a sharp pencil, because i needed to erase often!!!!! Good luck.

DonnaS

Donna, good advice as I have already thrown away the first sheet. LOL. Thanks for the encouragement. How did you visualize what the plant would look like? I mean, I understand a drawing for size-wise but am finding it hard to remember what some of them will look like when grown. Did you make notes on the sheet as to height, spread, bloom time or anything? I get frustrated because I'll see things online or in a catalog that I love but then when it comes time to put it all together nothing really works. Your grid idea is really good for this I think.

donna - absolutely beautiful. just how big is that house of yours??

arachide, I did make notes at the side of sheet, to remind me of bloom times, etc. I am nearly 80 years old and have been gardening all of my life, so have just grown up with plants. I usually just make a dot or a wavy small circle to indicate where a plant is going. I will try to take a scan of one of my grid sheets so that you can get an idea of how I plan. Not that I am an expert or anything, just seems to work for me. DonnaS

Herbie43, My triple wide manufactured home is 2600 square feet. I added 8 feet on to the entire length of the three sections because I wanted a library and a plant room. I have really enjoyed the house and in the more than 10 years I have lived in it it I would only change a couple of things. This is a very well built home, 2 x6 for outside walls, all 2 x 4 for inside. The best recommended insulation throughout, double e-filled windows. Solid wood cabinets in kitchen. I Love it. DonnaS

Donna, I have meant to post here a few times and got distracted by other things. I have no idea how you found the will, courage and desire to go out and do this on your own but you are a true inspiration to me! As you know, I am sort of following in your footsteps. I am not going in alone though and dragging an awful lot of baggage with me-be it human or plant. LOL

I am thoroughly impressed with what you have done and the views and photos you have posted are spectacular! I am in envy! I can think of worse things than being like you when I grow up. :) I hope you are feeling better now.

Badseed, thank you so much for the very kind words I did enjoy the experience of as my daughter called it 'homesteading'. My husband was a very controlling person and it was great to make my own decisions without argument!!!!

I am feeling much better now and will feel even better I am sure when I am finished taking the antibiotics.

Aracide here is a copy of one of my garden grid plans, just because this was one of the very few that was done in ink I made this copy, you can hardly see the 1/4" grid lines. Last evening my computer would not recognize my scanner so couldn't make the copy. Now hopefully I will get it sent.

Donna

They are serious and well deserved compliments. I bet it was wonderful to have such new found independence and freedom! My hubby is quietly supportive, never says a word about my plans or lack there of, encourages me to buy what I want (even when I don't or don't want to spend the money) and is a good guy but, he's not a talker. My great aunt always said "He wouldn't say S*** if he had a mouthful.". LOL She DID have a way with words. :)

Anyway, I am glad you are enjoying your life. Everyone deserves to be happy.

rutholive, I admire you so much. Thanks for scanning that grid sketch of your gardens. I see now how you did it and it looks great. As usual, I was making it too complicated and irritating myself. LOL.

Your story is inspirational to me. The blues have sort of overtaken my life the last couple of months, life's just been getting me down I guess. Thanks for sharing what you've done with your life and the changes you've made on your own.

Donna, your pictures are beautiful!! You have a real talent for getting your ideas on paper and then making them grow into an oasis in the desert! I would love to see your place in person, to be surrounded by it since I know only part of it comes through with a photograph. You've done a lot of work, you should be very proud of the accomplishment. Thanks for sharing your gardens with us.