Temps are rising this week and I am itching to get out into the yard. I’ve spent the last month and a half tucked away inside, pouring over inspiration and making plans for this spring. I already failed at germinating creeping thyme, lobelia and lavender so we’re off to a great start!
Hardscaping
After re-hauling the front yard last year, our focus will turn to the hardscaping in the backyard. We received a few bids to rework the brick patio, and flabbergasted doesn’t even begin to express our reaction. My guess is the labor must be intense for the amount of money both companies wanted. Its a small area and we’d rather put that money towards a new 2nd floor bath or a garage revamp someday. So the only option is for us to do the work. Oh joy. To save our bodies and sanity, we’ve agreed to do the patio in phases. If it isn’t 100% complete this year, not a big deal. We’re shooting for progress over perfection. Here are some inspiration photos:
Flowers
Our backyard is almost entirely shaded from our Burl Oak and Hackberry trees. This reality has crushed my dreams of having a cottage garden and all the sun loving flowers I’ve lusted after for years. I’ve had to pivot and explore the world of shade gardens, which can be stunning – who knew? We bought some astilbe and caladium this past week, and plan to bring in ferns, japanese anenome, and a camellia under the oak tree. Currently 95% of the foliage in the backyard is hostas. They LOVE it back there. I planted a Claire Austin rose and Nelly Moser clematis to flank the window of the garage in hopes they would eventually cover most of the siding. Both plants do well in shade, but with the small growth I saw last summer I’m thinking they are too shaded. We’ll see how they do in their second year, but a transplant might be imminent.
Patio Furniture
We’re in desperate need of a patio table and chairs, but need to source them cheap. I really want wrought iron, not only for looks but stability during our inevitable summer thunderstorms. The plan is to scour Facebook Marketplace, and then give them new life with a fresh coat of black paint. I love what Sarah did with her thrifted chairs, and this alone serves as our inspiration.
I know we’re in a false spring period and we’ll have a few more weeks of chilly weather. So during that time, I’m going to prune and prep beds so the real work can begin when it’s nice again. Do you have any big spring/summer plans for your garden?