In September of 2007 we moved into a fabulous house that I'm very in love with. We've done a few changes (inside and out) to make it more ours.
One of things I really loved about it when we first saw it was the courtyard type back yard it has, but it was definitely lacking something.
We made a few changes. First we Handy Man decided to take out the birch tree and make that a raised planting bed. While I liked the idea, I'm opposed to cutting down good trees. Handy Man begged, pleaded, stated his case, explaining that the tree would be very messy, clogging the gutters (which he hates to clean, I mean who wouldn't) and he said the tree was having some health issues. I admitted that the tree was looking tired, but it was September, don't most trees look tired in September. Handy Man was always going to win this battle, but I had to put up a little fight. So out the tree went and in came the dirt.
The front yard has a rockery and there were extra rocks scattered all over the place. So we Handy Man, brought them around back and we started building a matching rockery. Handy Man wanted to go 3 rocks high, but I kept insisting on two and keeping it low. We ended up doing one large rock layer and filled in with the smaller rock. It was great, we didn't have to purchase any rock, except the slate we used later.
Sometime in the middle of construction I got the idea of putting a pond in. We talked about it, we read up on it and decided to do it.
Notice how sunny it is?! *Sigh*
Notice how small the pond looks there? Handy Man decided to dig it bigger.
I'm pretty sure my Jasmine (on the right side of the photo) did not survive the winter. We've had it for 5 years and it's survived all of our mild winters, but the winter this year was relentless.
Handy Man had to use the Sawz-all to cut roots left by the birch tree. See the big pile on the left in the picture below?
When everything was just right Handy Man added the liner.
Then we added water!!
The the slate, so we could sit on the front edge. This was Handy Man's idea and I love it!
So we went from the courtyard looking like this in August 2007....
To it looking like this in August 2008...
I'm waiting ever so not so patiently at all to see this scene out my kitchen window again...
I can't wait for this change of scenery!
Beautiful! But watch out for that bamboo.... It'll take over the neighborhood!
Posted by: Mental P Mama | March 27, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Handy Man was right all along. Nice presentation of the before and after process. Enjoy your new scenery!
Posted by: Ebie | March 27, 2009 at 07:52 AM
Fabulous .. may I borrow Handy Man? IF we had this sort of project it would still look like the first photo .. trust me ...
Posted by: Daryl | March 27, 2009 at 07:56 AM
Gorgeous! I am so jealous of your beautiful yard. We want to do something similar in our front yard, only with a waterfall!
Posted by: ♥Tracey♥ | March 27, 2009 at 08:28 AM
What a beautiful space! I feel ya, winter just seems to be hanging on EVERYWHERE! I also wanted to point out that most of your pics seem to be of Handy Mans bum. Show off. ;)
Posted by: Meg | March 27, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Did you do what all the Hollywood directors do and wet the pavement so it photographs better??? ;)
How are you feeling?
Posted by: deb | March 27, 2009 at 10:41 AM
MPM - We (I mean Handy Man) lined the trench we planted the bamboo in, so it will only spread where we want it too.
Ebie - Thanks so much!
Daryl - Handy Man loves NY, he could probably be persuaded to stop in for some handy work, of course I would have to come too and we could hit the town while the guys "worked"!
Tracey - We have plans to put a waterfall in also and I can't wait! HM is going to build a bog filtration system for the pond that will have a small waterfall. I love water features in yards!
Meg - HM has a very nice bum! I like to share a good view!
Deb - We were having a summer shower that day, but it does look good all wet doesn't it. I'm doing ok, thanks! I'm not falling any further into the pit. I started my period again today after only 10 days, so that might have something to do with it!
Posted by: imom | March 27, 2009 at 12:48 PM
it's beautiful!!
Posted by: Katy | March 27, 2009 at 10:59 PM