Weekend Landscaping

Saturday was landscaping day. Neither my husband nor I have a very green thumb, but we do like things to look pretty. After having virtually no landscaping at all around our house, we decided that this was the weekend to 'go big or go home' in the landscaping department. Imagine having grass clear up to your house which has grown over fist size rocks that line the side of your house...what is what we had. NOT ANY MORE! Now we have a beautiful flower bed that surrounds the house...

We used rectangular pavers along with black mulch. Our wonderful friends Brandon and Shannon gave use all of the amazing hostas and irises that you see here.

As soon as I saw the black mulch, I knew I had to have it for our house. I guess you could say that it was like love at first sight. However, have you ever used black mulch before? This was a first for me and after laying 12 bags of it with my bare hands I looked like I had been left out in the sun too long and burnt my hands to a crisp! They were BLACK!!! I scrubbed and scrubbed them, but even now, 4 days later, my hands and fingernails are still stained. Word of advice, if using black mulch, WEAR GLOVES!!

We had this little batch of dirt in front of our house and I had no clue what to do with it. A few tulips were had come up (my FAVORITE!) but that was it. I kept the tulips of course...no brainer there...but added phlox along with an urn to plant more flowers in. I haven't decided what I wanted, so for now, it remains empty. A promise of more beautiful things to come!

Yes, that is our ADT sign that is broken. I guess we are just advertising that our home is only partially protected!

I added another urn and more phlox flowers...which I am in love! When they grow, it will look like a blanket of flowers!

How lovely!
Welcome to our home!

The landscaping is not done yet, but I feel like our house looks like the owners that live there at least care about it now!