Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Weekend Report - Vanilla Side

 


 Two years ago it was decided our front deck had to be rebuilt - it was (I don't know) 45 years old?? something like that - it was in desperate need of replacement.

I don't want this blog entry to be about the piss poor contractor who was hired..... BUT let me just say this.... it took him over a year to take it down and put up a new one.  In  the process he totally ruined our small front yard.

This was our front yard for months!!!!



Instead of putting protection down when they dug up the foundation - they just dumped dirt and rock on the lawn.  When they finished putting the deck up they just kinda shovelled the dirt around ..... and left it.  No pathway replaced to the city sidewalk.. just a slopping slippy mud yard.  (the same one I slipped on this past winter)

Even before they had finished work I had a dream of what the front yard could look like...... BUT silly us - we assumed the contractor would keep his promise and come back after the winter and fix the yard......... that was LAST spring.  We haven't seen hide nor hair of him since.... 

I have described how I see at least part of the small front yard many times... I see a rock bed curling around the yard with a dwarf flowering tree close to the deck with some large rocks (small boulders) placed strategically.
Sort of - kinda - like this................ 



Saturday morning Sir Steve and I were standing on the deck having a smoke - when Sir Steve suggested we go to the garden center (which were - we thought - supposed to be open) and pick up the lilac tree I have been dreaming of....... and price the other supplies.  I just about jumped up and down with excitement!

Well the garden center was closed (see my sad face?) BUT the local big box hardware store WAS open - and their garden center was operating!  We found a healthy white lilac ..........(one day it will look like this)



and we priced rocks and ground cover (to keep the weeds from growing through)

When we got home Sir Steve dug up the front side bit of the mess and put new black earth with peat and bone meal ... and proudly planted our lilac tree. 

 


We'll save our pennies and pick up the rest of the materials to make my 'rock' garden and hopefully have it finished by the end of this summer !!!

Life is VERY good when the man loves you enough to bring your dream to reality!

18 comments:

  1. Now gardening and plants that is definitely something I can get behind! I have a terraced rock garden on our front lawn. I'll send you pics if you'd like.

    Poor B gets dragged around from now until mid July looking at plants. Lol. He tries to set a budget. Lmao!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes yes yes - please send me pics...

      laughing at the budget comment ..... I am restraining myself from rushing off to buy everything we need to finish the rock river...
      it's supposed to rain this coming weekend though - so no point in buying stuff that's just gonna sit in the rain right???

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  2. I like your vanilla side just as much! I hope no one was harmed in the planting of the tree. Be careful when the rocks come.

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  3. We have to do our deck this year. Sigh.

    You are brave to be planting now. But I love the lilac tree. Sadly, we had to take ours out. The Sheriff was tortured by it. Sniff...I miss it. However, Last year I planted a Magnolia tree that seems to have survived.

    I hope the landscaping goes well.
    Hugs
    Boo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. not that brave Boo - lilac's can be planted in early spring... I wouldn't plant annuals till early June to be honest.. but a bush? as soon as there's no threat of frost is usually safe.

      My mom had a Magnolia tree - it was gorgeous!!
      OH and not to be a debbie downer - but you realize the cost of wood for decks has almost tripled since last year right?? Just saw it on the news this morning - a deck in 2019 would have cost $900+ in 2021 it is running over $3,000. I know Sir Steve works in the construction field and the cost of wood has gone up SO much and some types are in short stock :(
      This bloody pandemic !! :(

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  4. Huh, didnt know that about bushes.

    Growing up we had a magnolia tree that bloomed twice a year. It's lovely.

    And yes, lumber is ridiculous. It might be cheaper for us to do patio stones instead of a wood deck. Stupid pandemic!

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  5. We've got work to do here, too, and finally are gonna be able to do some of the landscaping that I have been wanting for years as well. I love your lilac tree and I look forward to future pictures as she grows and blooms over the years! And your rock garden sounds like it will be lovely, too! Hugs, Windy

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  6. I just tried to comment and I got some weird email saying my message on your blog didn't go through. Anyway, bottom line is I like your bush, I mean lilac tree. :) Can't wait for future pics of what you and Sir Steve get done with the landscaping! Hugs, Windy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. weird that email you got cause both messages came through...

      I'm hoping the lilac blooms this year - even small flowers... as for the future pics - my guess is don't hold your breath (grinning)

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  7. I like Lilacs. Around here you usually see them planted French style, in groups of three. I don't see white that often

    Prefectdt

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  8. we don't see white very often here either - always purple. BUT (believe it or not) our chairs on the deck have red cushions and I couldn't / wouldn't have purple and red (grinning) Besides I like to be different!

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  9. I love to see plants in gardens, and ours at the moment is looking not too bad at all, although I have my dad to credit for that I do not have green fingers at all, I can visualise in my head what I would like it to look like but achieving it, well doesn't quite go to plan.

    Plus I'm impatient, for example how long will it take for that lilac to grow to a good size and blossom?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. claire - it's got quite a few buds on it.. so I'm hoping it will bloom in a couple of weeks...as for growing - gah! gonna take a few years I think...

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    2. claire - you made me curious so I just googled how fast our lilac will grow - apparently 6 - 8 inches a year and maybe even a foot!!!

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  10. Oh well that's not as bad as I thought, they are lovely and according to my dad take little maintenance.

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  11. Hi Morningstar, we have work to do in the garden. Glad you got the lilac tree you were after:)

    Hugs
    Roz

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  12. Our front lawn was a mess last year afterthe city came and dug it up to fix a broken water main. They did return in 3 weeks to put down topsoil and grass seed.It seems that Sir S will have to do the rest of your front yard instead of the missing contractor.

    I love lilacs. I got a little on 2 years ago and there are buds on it right now.

    Hugs,
    Hermione

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ohhhhhh we've resigned ourselves to having to patch the front lawn for sure. BUT it would have been nice if the contractor had at least put the step back in ... but shrug it's not worth stressing over.

      I love lilacs!! Unfortunately my husband was highly allergic to them .... I am excited to finally have my own lilac bush and can't wait till it grows and fills in the corner of the garden

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