Everyday Living

Revealing The {Not So} Secret Garden

~ Outdoors

 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands”
Isaiah 55:12

It’s finally here!  We are so excited to reveal our new landscaping and garden project in our back yard space!  We have been talking about it on the blog forever it seems! We’ve talked about endless possibilities, and many of you chimed in! If you haven’t already, you can read the posts about it here:
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Patio Possibilities?
Backyard Beginnings
On our property of 15 acres, you will find hay fields, woods, and lovely views of the Appalachian foothills!  We have always loved the wide open space in our back yard, and it has been everything from a baseball field to a track for a battery operated jeep to a home for an above ground pool for 19 years!  When Butch removed the pool in 2013, we decided we would wait before landscaping!  But now, the wait is over!  The work began this spring, and now we hope to enjoy it for many years to come!  I plan on adding lots of perennials this fall and yes, there will be many dinners for the two of us al fresco style!  So, welcome to our not so secret garden!!!  Come on…let’s take a walk around…

 As we enter from the side, you will notice our picket fence!  Butch worked tirelessly installing it!
 Getting closer, you can see a little more…   As you can see, a lot of stone was involved!  Can you tell much about it so far?      How about now?  As we approach the focal point…  …the bronze statue  The landscapers did such a great job.  We are very pleased!  Do you all remember what it looked like before?  Lets take a look…    I would say they definitely transformed our backyard into a brand new place!   One of my priorities was to have a space for eating al fresco!  The bronze statue is actually a fountain, but Butch said emphatically, “No!!!” to the upkeep of a fountain!  I love it as an architectural piece.  Surrounding the statue is white thrift that will fill in to make a nice ground cover.  The bottom tier is planted with soft touch holly and lantana for color!  I will replace the lantana in late fall with pansies!   Bloodgood Japanese maples were placed in each rear corner.  The lime green plants are sunshine ligustrums!  I really like the vivid burst of color that it adds to the garden!   Limelight hydrangeas are beginning to bloom!   A view from the back corner! Herbs were another priority!
  The texture of lamb’s ear, the bright red salvia blooms, along with variegated liriope fills in the base surrounding the crape myrtle!  The low growing plants in front of the garden ornament are daisy gardenias-already anticipating their heavenly scent!    Blush nandinas line the front!   Coral bark Japanese maple

 Late afternoon light   Zoysia sod is really looking good!   Can’t wait for the sunflowers (behind the fence) to bloom!  Butch planted okra seed on the far left side on Saturday morning…it is already up!  I see fried okra on our plates for summer!  My sweetheart has always wanted a picket fence…and he made it happen! Early morning light on the garden!  Apricot drift roses will provide summer color! We moved a smaller ginkgo tree from another spot and planted it at the front corner to be a garden feature.  Its colorful leaves in autumn will be a great addition!  I am excited about the vanilla strawberry hydrangeas that are just showing signs of blooms!  I have never seen one in bloom!  A pair of Sioux crape myrtles border a side entrance!
 Butch loves ornamental grasses…a trio of adagio maiden grasses are planted behind the dining area!  Behind the picket fence is pasture with acres of wooded area that borders the river! The cloud formations on Tuesday evening were awesome!  The landscaping has been Oreo approved!Collage Thank you all for taking a stroll through our garden!  We love each of your comments and sharing our everyday living with you!final-closer-both-1Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home

Comments

  2. I couldn’t wait to see your new garden, and it is beautiful! I really love all the rock work. I too love the lime colored sunshine plants I had those at my other house and I love them mixed in with other shades of green.You you didn’t mention the pig planter, so I will ….for some reason I just love them. I hope you enjoy your new garden as much as Oreo seems to be!! So happy for you guy’s!

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  4. What a lovely garden! The picket fence is just perfect with it. I hope you both enjoy it.

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  5. This is stunning… professional, beautiful, creative. I would never want to come in. I can see one sitting there with a glass of wine, appetizers, family/friends and good conversation well into the evening. When I first begn looking at it, I thought I was looking out of a landscape magazine. Very proud of yourselves you should be. Thanks for sharing. I’m sure your beautiful pictures still don’t do it justice.

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    • Michelle, your comments are gracious and beyond sweet. You are right, we hope to enjoy evenings around good food and conversation! Have a wonder-filled weekend!

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    • Shirley, I really appreciate your sweet comments! We are excited and hope to spend many evenings enjoying dinner and the quiet surrounding! Wishing you a lovely weekend!!

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  8. Pam, I’ve followed your blog for a good while however, I’ve never commented before. I feel compelled to tell you how much I love what your back yard has become. Your choice of plants is great and I love that you have a Gingko tree. Such a beautiful tree. Please post more pictures as the plantings mature. I’m anxious to see if the “Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangeas look like one that I have. The description sounds like it might. It would be good to know the name. Mr. Pig is too cute with the colorful Marigolds and when those Sunflowers bloom…WOW…what a picture that will be. I’ll be checking for those much hoped for pictures. Have a blessed Sunday. Vikki in VA

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    • Vikki, I so appreciate you following the blog and commenting! Loyal friends that read are an encouragement to continue. I plan on periodic updates as the garden grows! The vanilla-strawberry hydrangeas are beginning to bud! I can’t wait to see their showy blooms! I hope you have a lovely Sunday and what a pleasure to meet you through the blog! Blessings, Pam

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  9. Oh my gosh – I thought this was a tour of a famous garden !
    It’s beyond gorgeous – really – it must be heavenly knowing it’s yours !
    xxx

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    • Suzan, thank you so much for the gracious comments! We are excited to have finally finished the project and hope to have many memorable dinners and quiet time spent in our garden! Have a lovely Sunday! Pam

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  10. Thank you for the tour. It’s a lovely garden and I can see that you would get so much use out of it. Love the kitty approved part, too!

    Hey, if you’re interested, I’d love to have you post over on my new blog hop at http://www.myflagstaffhome.com. It’s open all weekend.

    Jennifer

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  22. {{sigh}} Simply beautiful, my dear! Everything is truly stunning and elegant. How can you not be tempted to stay outside all day in your new wonderful garden?! A job well-done!

    Thanks a bunch for sharing with Roses of Inspiration!

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  25. It’s beautiful – what a transformation!! To have 15 acres of land is absolutely amazing, and it seems that you have really created a space in some of it that you can relax in and enjoy. Thanks so much for joining us at our new link party – Dream. Create. Inspire. Link. Party. We hope to see you back next week. Enjoy your new space!

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  26. Oh wow! It was definitely worth the wait. It is absolutely gorgeous and when you plant perennials it will become even more breathtaking! Thanks for sharing it with SYC. I will be featuring you this week.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  27. Thank you ever so much for sharing this pretty Spring gardening inspiration with us at the Garden party! Makes my heart happy:)
    Jemma

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  28. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love your fabulous outdoor space. We live in our garden room year round and would love to have even half the space you have.

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    • Carol, thanks so much. We love all our acreage in the country, but it is a lot to keep. Thanks fort the party!

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  29. Pam – your new landscaping is amazingly beautiful!
    I am so glad you shared this at our Garden Party!
    Welcome!

    Laura
    White Spray Paint

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  30. I remember this garden post from last year and I loved it! So nice to look back and see it again. You did an amazing job! Thanks for sharing with the Garden Party.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  31. Pam I was drinking in every image! What glorious garden focal point. Thank you so very much for linking up to the garden party. Your post was completely enchanting.

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  32. So beautiful! I love seeing the transformation too. I know you must feel like it’s a little piece of heaven on earth. In addition to all the beautiful plants your stonework is very pretty. I love it all!

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    • Mary, thank you so much. It has really grown this year and there is much upkeep, but we do love it!

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