May 17: This is what dirt looks like

Alright, here’s proof that we did stuff this weekend. It’s true—we didn’t spend two days on our arses like we usually do. I know, I can hardly believe it also. (I apologize for the bad photo. It was nearly dark when I thought to capture this stage of the project on film/whatever-you-call-digital-photos.)

All the grass in the front yard has been pulled up.  We tore out two hydrangea bushes that have never done well, and a couple of other shrubs that grow like crazy and are too high maintenance. The green stuff there in the front is a beautiful patch of periwinkle that we’re trying to save but may end up yanking out before the project is complete. We left some on the other end of the yard too.We also left a barberry bush, which serves as camouflage for the utility boxes near the sidewalk and is also so prickly that it scares us a little, and the monster huge birch tree, which I love.

The hanging pots were three of my Mother’s Day gifts, and we bought the five color pots at a nursery yesterday. They’ll eventually end up arranged better than they are right now.

Tomorrow a load of topsoil is being delivered, and then the fun part of the work begins. We’ll even out the yard, create some raised areas, and start planting planting planting, like we’ve never planted before, at least not in the front yard.

As you can see, this is a smallish area (32’ x 11’ plus a deep side yard) and should not take nearly the planning and boasting that it is. But have you forgotten with whom you’re dealing? We are two of the laziest and non-knowledgeable landscapers ever in the history of suburbia. BUT we’re thinking that if the weather stays decent we might actually get this project finished next weekend. Because (and here we go again with the boasting): are we amazing, or are we amazing? I think we’re amazing.