We have been living in our house for about three years now. I remember the day we finally found our first house very clearly. We had been house-hunting all day, seeing one dreary prospect after another, and we'd reached the final house on the list. As soon as I stepped inside I felt lighter and happier. This was it!
We explored room after room feeling more and more confident that we'd found our home. Then we stepped outside...and into one of the most forlorn, neglected and desolate yards I had ever seen. It was 90 degrees outside, there was not a spec of color anywhere, not a plant in sight and the dusty rubble under our feet was reflecting the sun back into our faces, almost blinding us. Oh sad yard.
We needed to create an area for play, hanging out and a place to eat. We desperately needed some shade, which over time, the plants provided. We also needed to remedy the construction site dumping ground of nails, screws, broken glass and rubble on the ground.
We toyed with the idea of planting grass to warm up the space but wanted something drought tolerant. A quick trip to the hardware store for some polished river rocks did the trick. Their dark color absorbs the intense sunlight helping to make the garden less blindingly bright.
My husband built the raised garden bed that we use for our vegetable garden. We chose this swing and a white cafe table for dining.
We planted Creeping Fig right away hoping that it would provide an excellent cover for the cinder block walls. Hardenbergia grows well on the roof trellis canopy and gives lovely purple blooms in the winter when everything else is quiet. Our first plantings were consumed by snails. Then the hungry squirrels, raccoons and opossum managed to eat our entire bamboo crop. Right now the garden is a nice mix of berry bushes, wisteria, grape, geranium, hibiscus and roses.
Fixing it up into a space where we can spend time outside comfortably has been a process. It was definitely not a quick weekend DIY but it was worth it and we love it.
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