I Took Wednesday Off.

My mom came into town and worked me like a field hand. We made a list, visited some nurseries, dug holes, and planted things all over our yard. I was exhausted, and my lips were chapped, but nevertheless, I am really satisfied with everything.

Here's a rendering of the back yard...



Our backyard is ridiculously shady thanks to an enormous pecan tree, and mom was invaluable in helping me select plants that shy from the sun. The owners before us laid out some beds with really nice stone work. Some of these shrubs were there already, but we did get Hostas...

to fill up the area along the left fence, leaving room for impatiens in front and tall ferns along the house to mask the air conditioner to go in later.

We planted a border of Liriope on the strip of sod between the driveway and the right fence.


We discovered that we had two Hydrangeas on either side of the porch steps, and we added two more to grow huge and bright...

in the back of the left bed just beyond the spindly, little dogwood tree, so that you can see them easily from the porch or the swing in the back.


We already had a few Pittosporum bushes that proved to be nearly indestructible through our stingy watering in the summer and the cold winter, so we decided to add a few more to fill things out. Plus, I like the light green, variegated leaves.


In the front, we added a smattering of all kinds of herbs: basil! rosemary! mint! in the beds, and we put together a pot of oregano, thyme, and dill with some snapdragons.

We spread some purple verbena around as ground cover in case the tall grasses don't come back...


added a border of Dusty Miller, and that was that.