I always really enjoy taking trips back in time through photos. Especially photo's of houses and yards where you can see how everything grows over the years. I'm pretty lucky ~ my husband is a gardener / groundskeeper for a large nearby city and after he spends the day working hard to make the city landscapes look nice, he comes home and heads out to work on our own landscape until it gets dark. ( I figure I can brag about him a bit as he's off hunting again and will hopefully return with some game bird meat and more 'Tater Tales' to share!)
We bought our acre and 1/2 four years ago. It came with this mobile home on it. We lived in this for two years.
Then we moved into this. Yes, it's a tent. We lived in this for 6 months. June - December. 95 degree summer and 9 degree winter days, snow and all. Quite cozy!
Here is the inside.
We lived in the tent while we did this ~ built a house.
Often times, building a house leaves you with a blank canvas for landscaping which is usually nicer than starting with someone else's existing landscapes or ' non - landscapes'.
Here is the side yard we dedicated to our 'Mediterranean garden'. Above is the garden as a 'baby'. Below is the same garden this year as it takes shape and fills in. The ornamental grasses are now so tall they reach half way up that window and are all 'feathered out' and showing off their fall colors.
The back patio takes shape and then a fire pit. Our yard gets pretty hot and dry in the summer compared to most of the yards in our town so we did the back garden in tropical plants. Our banana trees got around 7 feet tall this year and so did the Lillies. These, along with our bright orange Cannas are right outside my bedroom window so it looks like we live somewhere tropical even if we don't. ( below is the tropical garden being planted and barked.)
We finished off our back patio area this summer. Our goal is to create our own little 'resort ' like area so we only have to travel as far as the backdoor for a luxurious vacation. Saved some money in the travel department although, anyone who's done any landscaping can tell you - it ain't cheap!
Next year we tackle the front of the house, deck, porch, entry focal point and plantings. Also want to get the outdoor counters done for our barbecue area. One step at a time!
4 comments:
What a lovely home and yard. It is so rewarding to watch it grow and improve over the years. It seems when you can follow the changes thru photos, you notice things even more! Years ago, Nalley was offered the opportunity to "save" many plants from old homes being demolished for new shopping centers in my old hometown. Not only did we get lots of neat plants, I knew many of the owners who had previously tended the plants for years! Like you say, lots of hard work though.
Wow, I am amazed and admire what your family have achieved.
To live in the tent through summer and winter.
The garden is going to look lovely.
As you say one step at a time.
Hugs
I love the 'documentation' of your home. The tent was pretty cozy, having snuggled the grandkids in it myself !The little wood stove kept it pretty warm when the weather got bad, and you moved out and into your new home literally in the nick of time ! love, Mom
Oh my goodness you guys have done some work! I really enjoy seeing the progression of things. It looks you definitely have that "backyard resort". Looks great!
I can't believe you lived in a tent. Looks like you had it pretty cozy though I must admit!
Post a Comment