The Stuff that's Us: Fun with dirt

I am realizing when you have a house, the list of projects is endless. I find that no sooner have I crossed the "to do" items off my list that I discover a few more things that need doing. Ahhhh, such is life, and it is good to keep busy with projects anyway...

I have been wanting to make some changes to the front of the house but needed serious direction with what to do since I am a gardening newbie. So Mom graciously offered to come and give me some advice and help.

Last Tuesday both Mom and Dad came over on their day off to help me rip out the railroad ties and re-edge the new garden.

It was nice of them to come over on their day off. It was such a big help! I think they had fun though, Mom said at one point "I like digging in the dirt." Maybe that is partly why she is so slim. "Many hands make light work."

Saturday Mom and I drove out to her favorite local nursery to pick out some plants that would be appropriate for the front of the house. We got a crape myrtle for the corner (this should grow to about 20 feet) and liroipe (variegated ornamental grass) for behind the crape myrtle to give year-round color. Next to the liriope are 2 Euonymous flowering bushes. Then we planted winter pansies in front of both windows. We got all this planted on Saturday. We were able to get it done b/c Tom was able to help me with moving the two arborvitae that were in the front (see previous pic).

Then yesterday (Sunday) I laid wet cardboard down first, then mulch over top that. According to my mom, you can pay money for expensive black matting to prevent weeds or you can use cardboard. Since we just unpacked the last of our boxes from the move, we had plenty of cardboard on hand and so I just used that.