We have been renovating "Herb's end" for 30 years. We have renovated our renovations.
The old days--29 years ago. When we moved here, before we could plant anything, we had to remove dilapidated chicken coops, abandoned cars and a boat, piles of rotten lumber, poison ivy, bittersweet, dead trees, etc. But before too long I was ready to plant flowers. The new deck in the background isn't there anymore. That was in the first round of renovations. Note to self: Next time, start with a master plan.
This is the old east garden. I built this perennial plot bit-by-bit over 30 years, but three years ago I abandoned it while we focused on the south side of the house. Over the last three years we built a small addition, added new exterior doors, windows, a pool, a pool house, a stone wall, fencing, and woodland paths on the south side. There was a lot going on--for a year and a half we did not have a bedroom. This pretty garden has turned into a weed pit. The picket fence we built is gone and the once well tended plot is now over run with golden rod, creeping Charlie, and witch grass. There are big holes where I had dug out old perennials for the new gardens. Now we are turning back to this old plot to grow veggies and fruit. We have reset the old brick paths and plan on growing more food in the coming years.
There are WEEDS everywhere. Somewhere under those weeds are brick paths.
Brick by brick.
It felt so good to reset the bricks and free them from the weeds. I needed a little shade to work under. It has been HOT here.
It felt so good to reset the bricks and free them from the weeds. I needed a little shade to work under. It has been HOT here.
Still leveling this out, then I will spread stone dust in the cracks.
Mr. Fix-it and Riley are working on the gate today. That is a new lattice on the back of the pool house. We relocated the Betty Prior rose from the old garden to this new spot. It survived being transplanted but it will take a few years to look robust again (the birds planted the sunflower). You can see the small addition beyond the fence.
This is what the new south garden looked like this spring. In the last three months we added the three windows on the left, as well as the door on the left, the railings, and the trellis. When I say 'we' I mean just Mr. Fix-it and I. Renovating is our fitness regimen. So, beware of off-handed remarks, like--"I think we should make the south side of the house the focal point." If you take cracks like that seriously, the next few months will not include vacations, or day trips.