I FINALLY got to do some gardening over the weekend. Here are a couple of before and after photos.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwDqysyMDVyOoQ1DmR0V9CI20P0Q2GG5X4qdMdXoWCRz46huQ_Pe3qbPL13HNTsC64oYFXmLigPkgOkDdeK7h-SntwupaUaGzhgko7-byWO0gt1wBVI9Z0MSWny1L1g6vo8FilSsD6Np8/s400/bamboo_before.JPG) |
The back yard always looks awful, partly because it looks out on a
church parking lot. It looks very raggedy here. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCA7BxD7SbruqgDk5DR6nLw9TYZMSvs5aYOgDEFriymJklIjdNK-yWbgGxiKqaqJkFDaHcbP9STtq1YmxNge-NzY3TFrODVgcGvSdNSv1vOcJSYwtNTrjFQ90r-zWvb8aW2URa6Hw5IxzG/s400/bamboo_after.JPG) |
I've added arrow bamboo and a couple of ligustrum. The reed fencing
is a temporary measure until the plants fill out. I'm planning on
adding some more "filler" plants soon. Lowe's ran out of brown mulch,
so I had to use red for the back. I was too lazy to mix it all together.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjXXOdjHkrOAi9cDd8-1EKYvfzaj35-gnGJJ6jVT1jLwQGAah5BYxkv5XisF_ZLNVtRHerbxzwv2-E_gR1nJPlnF0a3vnPwDnMDCpFVj0-WdisQUhLHEzcHhjmWIyGRzmLgly49Iv9ULp/s400/front_before.JPG) |
The front looks pretty rough, too.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdwUSZTw517-jeG9GkngBYTPOuBBUG13ntpyZIhxQHioW6B7kJpP20N8aejn4ff8fyK21UA6_BOzFFUpwuAzsgbueCSpQceKNzPN8kjNv-DXSrqPqdZSWmgqXLwOi0kODnthlrPP-3Qwe/s400/front_after.JPG) |
Looking a little better now. I'm planning on removing the sod
where the stepping stones are and making the whole area
into a planting bed. I'm getting some repairs done on the house in
a couple of weeks, after which I'll paint the house yellow. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Tn7JSIUZggOr5BVpcfHuVIBfFwOa6EzpZRGD-dZfb-Gd8Y6EDn-ZC5e_zriNu2syK-Cz8jsDjf39w3uqy9G9aQRWFgIcGrz7PErXEuIENfai2bGFzVXWSrLavsPb5ulUtvwLotH9Kc8w/s400/cans_before.JPG) |
This ugly thing camouflages the garbage cans. It looks pretty bad,
but it looks better than exposed garbage cans. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJexlBsIonHecrVsU0A8061nLeM5LldMTER4iRzUcoHtOvgQXTLNKtTEtN8MO-jRyqD-rmhmI1RI5jmFtOxAGKr82FU8jKHihvMm05kAajU8ulvpNEseC3JfjCPdxuoAsbnzbX_RIsPYXI/s400/cans_after.JPG) |
Much better. Hopefully the Japanese magnolia will fill out and hide more
of the ugliness. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvLu5phnsfzJpMt3JTUsZz5ZwOVDhVBzjuWmPfwBD8IJcaFW6lP6ybeZ19i8Y4pdFw0Oh947zjp9AD8dYu6-hCx6wEVMu2IyImq014tW0Im1_yNmYFmQ8nCQFvInvAfMKdUYwW8hhfNDG/s400/azaleas_pink.JPG) |
The azaleas are blooming! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGe4ara_1UlYv3DFhkO6nSGNhWjcvWgxX0Py7n2SGNOFVf2nyHwXP6IkF6Hnf9a8Z9tR4GRiNPzEArlD5u1BLtaw2numptjiblk_Zy53Gdgruz22bKRCh-z2JOrJrI7jnF7KFLWgxUHSG5/s400/gardenia_buds.JPG) |
The gardenias are getting ready to explode. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIwlGqdBhL1Wyx166TluYlsgYPdSiTfTFxXw1nFyk4ja5El-ky1wPVR4cEMIiUFPh6M9tBnLAdgJAjiIhKZn86VVRpYLi3uT2HMPvDIqOCtj5dipKy6ysQUO5rlspWGdkL9sOCsL06Bdp/s400/snake.JPG) |
A tiny snake I spotted while I was puttering. The dog didn't even see him.
She stepped right over him. Some watch dog she is. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k-h8iikaP2KOS4yuvJR1EJOR8SW44CePozjtYrcxulAJvYwJQ7gqMYPrWnVTY7vobuWYvanv1Hkf5o396RkB_hm0xaka19eKU7xbNt9odAEkM3ZxSZMafNC54znO-OgRWgvLAJWT9Voh/s400/moon.JPG) |
The "super" full moon on March 19. |