The Great Outdoors

Ever since I purchased my home a few years back, I have had ideas and intentions to do something cute with the backyard area (I even probably blogged about it last year around this time). It's not too big and has some nice trees and such. And my neighbors, with whom I share a cute little fence that we chat over like in the movies, have the most wonderful secret garden of a yard that there is to see. I have had many strong feelings to reciprocate and give them something more pleasant to look at than the current view. There is only one problem....I do not love spending time with things such as garden tools, dirt, bugs, and plants.

For the past year, I have been trying to will myself to pretend my heart could tolerate the experience enough to get the landscaping job done. Well, now it's is spring and almost time for planting and I JUST can't do it. 

Thankfully I have a lovely friend 'L' who actually does enjoy all things garden. Like, for real...it makes her happy to dig in dirt and grow stuff...amazing! And to top it off, she was willing (and I think maybe even a little excited) when I asked her if I could hire out her talents to make my backyard dreams become reality.

She stopped by last week to take a look at the space, talk through some ideas and take some measurements. I'm very excited!

I leave all final gardener decisions and creative license to her expertise, but here are a few visuals to give you an idea of my soon-to-be Great Outdoors:

1) Lots of hostas, some day lilies, other amazing things that she will choose and a cute border of some brick-like materials yet to be determined. Oh, and I may have to do something in the grass growing department where those big patches of grass-less dirt currently reside.

2) A wildflower garden to help save the bumblebees and butterflies. I also plan to purchase some LARGE metal letters that spell 'Peace' and will lean them up against the wooden fence behind the flower bed...and that little tree stump to the left of the bricks will become (you guessed it) a painted peace sign. My own happy little hippy peace garden:)

3) Yummy rows of raspberries...with some space and stone pavers in between each row for easy berry picking access....next to my baby pear tree (it's a fruit extravaganza- or at least it will be someday when the pears are actually edible).

4) A hammock chair that swings between my 2 maple trees. You will have to use your imagination with this...as my chair drawing skills in the photo editing app are not as stellar as I hoped they would be. But trust me, it will 

be a cozy place to spend an afternoon.

I feel confident enough to keep all the plants alive with watering and occasional weed pulling once they have their place. But I am so thankful that the work of transforming the yard into something beautiful is now in the hands of someone who actually knows what they are doing! 

Once it's all said and done, I may even start liking being outside...maybe:)

P.S. I got a new electric lawnmower last weekend and it is SWEET....it increased my desire to mow my lawn by many percentage points. I am beginning to feel more and more like a responsible home owner with each passing day.