Before and After Lanscape Pictures

I really wanted to post these pictures together on the Landscape Data base site, but there must be a problem. I can only post one at a time. Sooo.... I figure this is where I will post instead. We bought this house 5 1/2 years ago. The house was and is great....the yard OMG. It reminds me of " The House On Haunted Hill" Well we bought it and made a promise to have it looking better in 5 years. Mind you this is our 7th home and I am kinda tired of fixing and leaving the stuff behind. I took pictures of the yard and made some really rough sketches of what I thought would work. I then sat down with my computer and a cheap landscape program and came up with my designs. I must say that I am married to a wonderful man who works like a MACHINE. He looks at all of the yardwork like a "workout". Mind you I do help....but he far out works me. We have been married for 39 years and are a pretty good team. So this is the before front yard.

This message was edited Apr 22, 2009 11:18 PM

The first step was to pull out the plants that we wanted to save and then Kill The Grass (or weeds). We laid out the hose and spray painted the areas and got out the roundup. We turned over the dead stuff and ordered 40 yards of top soil, and then 40 yards of mulch.

Yep there is my guy with the wheelbarrow. You didn't think that we used big equipment did you?

So here is the finished front yard. Well actually we have added a 2 foot stone wall to the edge,and I have put in a few more plants. I am looking forward to taking an updated picture this year. It has been 3 years since we did this. We live accross the street from a cardiologist and he would drive by and reassure us that he had his difibrilator at home just in case we needed to be rescued. The dry stream bed consist of 8 1/2 tons of river rock.

The entrance to the front was pretty boring.At least we are patriotic!

Looks great--you've really done a lot!

I'd give the landscaping database another shot--you can definitely put in more than one picture. Just like here in the forums you can only upload one at a time, but I have a ton of pics in the landscapes I put over there so I know you can upload more than one.

We fixed that entrance with a hedge of boxwood ,a beautiful weeping cherry tree,2 hydrangea trees, and a small pond to the left of the walkway. Can't beat the sound of running water. Lately I have had to add water to the pond because the deer have started to use it as a private waterhole.

Ok so on to the side yard. Wow how plain.

Found this picture of an arbor and well the rest is history

This message was edited Apr 22, 2009 11:19 PM

I made the mistake of planting a trumpet vine. Beautiful but got to be really invasive. We took it out last summer and put in a climbing rose instead. I am anxiously awaiting to see how it does this year.

Ok so I must digress for a min. This is my old backyard. I was just about to have it shown in a garden tour. It was my little bit of heaven. I feel you must see this to appreciate what we gave up and what we moved into. Call us crazy.

Yes we are nuts. This is was our new backyard. It was a wall of dirt about 8 feet tall and 5 feet off of the deck. Let me tell you I went through many sketched ideas for this mess.

So with design in mind and a neighbor who needed some dirt we teamed up and he got out the digger and began. My grandkids thought all of this was just fab. Went through many popsicles on this dig.

The left side was bowled out and moved back.We had a nice easy grade to the slope.

The right side had to be much steeper, so we terraced this side.I have some pretty great ideas for this side.

OMG ,Congrats,It looks like something out of Home And Garden Mag. now!!!!!!!Gorgeous !!!!!! Excellent Job............

Well with terraces come retaining walls. Let me tell you the pyramid builders have nothing on my guy. Remember that driveway back in the beginning. Well the stones were delivered there and then had to be wheelbarrowed up to the back. Remember he likes to WORK OUT.

If you have a terrace then you need stairs right?

You're not that far away from me,could I borrow him for a little bit........and of course you to.

Remeber the left side with the gentle grade? Well here it is all landscape and looking pretty. Who would have thought it would have turned out so lovely.

This has to be his profession!!!!! He is Awesome !!!!!

You are very lucky,give that man applause!

This message was edited Apr 22, 2009 11:59 PM

Did any of you guess what would go on the terraced side? Yep not one but two waterfalls and a linear pond to follow the shape of the terraces. Here he is putting down the liner and rubber linner on one of the waterfalls.

This is the bog area for one of the falls. I am really looking forward to planting it this year.

I bet your neighbors walk by in awe.........

We do have great kids that help with some of this. My one son in law is an electrician...how handy!

I hate this picture of me, but this is not about me right? I just didn't want you guys to think that I just sat and ate bon bons.

So here it was last fall. WHEW!!! It was a really grueling 5 years, but it has paid off. Best of all we survived.

Great picture of you.......us women never eat bon bons,we give orders..........LOL.

Some water Plant and Fish and you will be good to go,I'd love to see it in person,just amazing,have I said that.

I ordered the water lillies and 3 Lotus. We added 12 fish last fall. The fish were spawning this past weekend. We are expecting hehe! I hope that you all enjoy looking at the above pictures. It was my grandfather that fostered my love of gardening. I have some of his peonies poking out of the ground. I brought then from Omaha ( my bithplace) when he passed away a few years ago.

We have 10 grandkids. The oldest is only 7 sooo they are all pretty close. The baby( not pictured) was born last Jan. I know that I have passed along gardening to our 3 daughters and some of the grandkids are showing an interest. They all love to come and sail their boats and watch the fish. Life if grand here in the Burgh!!!

So very sorry for the loss of your Grandfather,I miss my Pap and Granny so very much.

And those Grandbabies are more beautiful than your yard.You are Blessed By God!

Thank you.What a beautiful poem. Yes we have been blessed. I feel closest to those that have passed when I am working in the yard. The neighbors are so gratefull that we did something with the eye sore of a front yard. Only a few have seen the backyard. We are planning on having a viewing this summer. Those that have seen it can't believe their eyes or that my hubby is still alive.

This message was edited Apr 22, 2009 11:32 PM

This message was edited Apr 22, 2009 11:34 PM

Positively jawdropping stunning. I am blue with envy. And what beautiful grandchildren.

no, burghblooms, I pictured you in a straw hat with a frozen drink 'you-hoo! honey! move the rock THAT way' lol just kidding. It's a gorgeous yard, truly a labor of love. And a beautiful family, too. We probably will see it in a magazine spread soon :)

No straw hat here, but many a frozen drink.

oh my goodness!! My jaw has been hanging down to the floor for the last ten min. looking at all the work you and your husband have done!! It's stunningly beautiful!!!