Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Flower Beds

Sam's latest home improvement project was the flower beds in front of our house.

Ever since we moved in I have fought a losing battle to make these 'pretty'. Between the dogs and the kids (and even the adults around here!) someone was always walking THROUGH the flower beds, riding a bike across them, kicking up bark or DIGGING holes in them.

Twice I replanted the areas with beautiful perennials, but the flowers really didn't stand a chance. It was just too easy and convenient to walk on through there.

On the left side of the sidewalk, we ripped everything out and replanted the two things that still showed signs of life elsewhere. Sam redid the landscape fabric and ground cover and planted two nice, hardy bushes flowering bushes. He left lots of space in between them, so if people STILL feel the need to walk through there, they won't trample the flowers.

On the other side (which was really the disaster area), Sam poured concrete and filled in all but three little squares. In those squares, he placed whiskey barrels and surrounded them with bark. He let me pick out flowers to fill them and they turned out beautifully!

Sam ran a drip system to all of them so that I don't have to try and remember to water them, since I'm not very good at that!

It's taken a few years, but we finally have COLOR in front of our house. Sam also put up hanging baskets on both sides of the porch (with a drip watering them too, of course) to add a little more beauty. I think he did an amazing job of prettying up our front porch! :)
Thanks, Sam! You always have the BEST ideas. :)

5 comments:

Beth said...

Wow! That turned out really pretty . . . and it makes your porch look bigger.

Wish you guys would come stay with us for a month or so . . . : )

Jen said...

That looks great! We have been trying to do little landscape projects around our house and its amazing what a little flower or plant can do for your house! Love it!!! Does Sam want to come visit the great state of South Dakota? ;o)

Heidi Jo Comes said...

oh i LOVE the front of your home! so inviting. can i please stop over next time in the area? :o)

Shanygne said...

It looks so GREAT! way to go, Sam! You win, again!

Anonymous said...

Can Sam be my neighbor? He's amazing!