How does your garden grow...

I thought I knew a thing or two about gardening. I thought it was a-ok. But it wasn't until I started to design and create my own garden and put my hands in the dirt that surrounds The Nest that I really caught the gardening bug. The first sign was when I had Bill hold a flashlight for me while I dug and planted the first batch of plants after sundown. I just could NOT wait till the next day!

After weeks of digging, cutting, dragging, bundling, building, planting, watering, and just generally toiling, the front garden is pretty much done for now. It's hard to overlook the dramatic change to the appearance of the house and neighbors pass by daily and remark about the transformation and the work and care we have put in. I'm grateful! It's comments and cheerleading like that that help me stay focused on what we have accomplished instead of getting wrapped up in how much more there is to do. It can be overwhelming!

As soon as all the overgrown brush was cleared, I started dreaming up the plan for new plants and flowers. Here's what's been planted so far: 

Meet Jackie, she's a Weeping Cherry Tree and the Queen of this garden. A gift from my mom. The same species that we had in our front yard in the home where I grew up. 

Fragrant Lavender at the base of the staircase. 

Forget Me Nots that will love the shade of the Cherry. 

A line up of stunning flowering perennials: Lily, Shasta Daisy, Bee Balm, Echanasia, and Fox Glove, choreopsis (not pictured) and some Ajuga for ground cover. 

And finally, Todd. A Juniper Tree. Named after our amazing Real Estate Agent Todd Denman. 

I've learned so much about the art of gardening in these past few weeks. Although there is plenty more to learn! Mostly from my mom, one of the greenest thumbs I know. But also from the neighbors stopping by to chat and share ideas. My favorite moment was coming in from a particualrly long and hot shift in the garden, during which I had been chatting with all the neighbors. I looked in the mirror and saw this!! 

Just one of the side effects of that good ol' sweat equity!

Here's a little before, during, and after tour:

Just when I thought I had run out of garden projects for season, my mom brought over a few packets of bulbs. Those first precious flowers that come up in spring have to be planted in the fall before the ground freezes. So, as they say, the work is never done. But it's so worth it!