Last weekend we took a little break from our Ikea kitchen reno and did some gardening (which means our living room looks like a cabinet factory right now).
It was drizzly and rainy most of the weekend, which sounds like a bad time, but might actually be my new favorite time to do yard work. For one thing, the sun wasn’t out so it was cooler, and the other reason is the ground is so much softer which makes digging holes easier. Plus no need to water the plants right away.
We did a little in the front of the house too, but more on that later.
We are very novice gardeners and are learning as we go, and boy have we learned since our entire yard needed a complete overhaul (see the entire back yard and patio process here). We ask lots of questions when we go to nurseries, and one by us will even help you with your landscape design for free. Yeah, can’t beat that.
We have been mostly happy with the plants we have chosen, but a couple weeks ago we decided that the Shenandoah Grass over on one side of the patio wasn’t working for us.
You might remember this is what it looked like before with the Shenandoah Grass.
And this is what it looked like way before (yeah, I know, ick)
And this is now.
The little flagstone step flanked by the Shenandoah Grass was okay looking, but it provided no privacy and died off in the winter. We decided to replace it with 3 Schip Laurels. The Laurels should grow large enough in a couple years to provide a bit more privacy and are evergreen.
We are still loving our new table. One thing we realized after sitting at the table is that it is actually a couple inches higher than our old table. I guess there’s no standard patio table height…who knew? We do feel kind of short when eating, but we’ve gotten used to it.
Remember our mums that we got last year? We transplanted them to the red pots over by the laurels and they seem to be doing well. That area gets a good amount of sun which is why we put them over there. They will eventually move to our front porch when (or I should say, if) they they bloom this fall. We are novices, after all :)
Our hydrangeas are getting ready to bloom. You can just make out the bud there in the center of the leaves.
I am hoping they get nice big blue blooms, but since we only planted them last year we’re not really sure how well they will perform this year. Hydrangeas in our area sometimes have a harder time in the first couple years.
The Encore Azaleas I showed you last week just finished blooming, but should bloom twice more this year. You can just make out the last of the flowers. All the rain and storms we had over the weekend knocked off most the flowers. They lasted a good two weeks and we enjoyed every minute of them.
Also, I was recently featured on Decorchick and The CSI Project. Go check it out!
And make sure to check out our inspiration galleries! They include LOTS of reader submitted home decor images! Browse by room type, room color and check out our gallery of painted and refinished furniture.
Linking up to: A Diamond in the Stuff, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, Centsational Girl, Pink Postcard, Remodelaholic, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, French Country Cottage, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, Under the Table and Dreaming, Boogieboard Cottage, The DIY Show Off, Dittle Dattle, Between Naps on the Porch, The CSI Project, Green Door Designs, Keeping it Simple, Just Something I Whipped Up, Boogieboard Cottage, A Bowl Full of Lemons, The Stories of A to Z, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Just a Girl, Domestically Speaking, Thrifty Decor Chick, Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths, Houseography, Pink Postcard, The CSI Project
Obsessed with paint colors. Avid DIYer. Decorator. Fixer of broken things. Sharing your paint colors at 
What a transformation!! It looks so pretty out there. I’d love to be out there all the time!
What a beautiful transformation!! Such a big difference!! I love it!! Everything looks soo pretty!
Such a pretty space. I love the stonework and adore hydrangeas. Your seating areas look so inviting. What a change from the before! Stopping by from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia party.
It is a beautiful transformation and will be a great place to gather for family fun!
Lovely area! Your hard work is paying off and your outdoor living space is beautiful! Wanda
that looks so great, and i’m so glad your transplanted mums are thriving. i neeeed backyard and front landscaping assistance, i wish someone around this way would help for free. maybe they would and i don’t know about it. i seem to have trouble with plants, and i need someone to tell me *this* should go here, and so on, and so on! i love your space!
You’ve made a lovely place, from something that was really looking uninvinting in that former picture you showed! I planted a laurel as well a few weeks ago, though mine is a lot smaller!
this is just gorgeous. Love your fence too :) I would love to invite you to link this to my party that starts today and runs through Friday!
fantastic transformation!
that came out really great!! I love looking at before & afters. We need a new patio set, but I’m having a hard time swallowing the prices they want to charge!
Wow-looks great! Love the pops of yellow and beautiful plantings! Great job!!
This is lovely- I adore the flagstone and those steps are gorgeous! Great before and after! Would love if you shared this gorgeous patio at Feathered Nest Friday at my blog! :)
Looks lovely! It will be great when the new bushes you planted fill in a bit.
What a major transformation! I love the new patio and your yellow umbrellas are awesome!
Sigh… it looks dreamy. Visiting you from TT&J.
Your patio is beautiful! What a relaxing, welcoming space.
I love the look of the flagstone. Your whole backyard looks awesome! Thank you for sharing it on Masterpiece Monday, Mary :O)
Beautiful patio. Love the big Dijon colored umbrellas. You will love living out there! Thanks for sharing. ~CJ
You have created a wonderful patio. What a transformation. Just lovely!
I know you are so enjoying your new beautiful patio!! Wonderful job!
Everything is so pretty. You’ve come a LONG way from your before picture. I have thaose encore azaleas and they did not bloom any after I planted last summer. This spring–no blooms. I don’t know why. But the foliage is pretty. Your grass is lush and so green. It looks like a beautiful place to enjoy and entertain.
Great new look! Now, it looks so neat and perfect, really a nice place to eat and spend a nice saturday with family and friends!
Hugs
FABBY
Just incredible. i love the stone! You did a great job in designing this.
Your patio looks lovely. Great transformation!
Hi there- just stopping back by to say thank you for sharing your beautiful space at Feathered Nest Friday this week! Hope you will come share again soon! Have a great day! :)
Beautiful job, so pretty!
that is gorgeous! i love all the hardscaping as well- beautiful!
Wow, it looks so great!
The before and after is amazing! I love your stone steps and patio. Your hydrangeas give mine hope! Mine have had little buds like that for a while but I didn’t know if they’d bloom. I’m trying to nurse them back to health :)
It looks like a lovely place to sit & relax. Great job!
All I have to say is, “WOW!” It looks a million times better :)
I’d love it if you’d link this up to The After Party @ 3 Meadow Lake Cottage…
http://www.3meadowlakecottage.com/2011/06/striped-curtains-finally-and-after.html
~Erin
Hi Jena, Your patio looks amazing! Such an incredible transformation. The rock is gorgeous and I totally agree with working in the rain. Fantastic job…you must be ready for summer! Thanks so much for linking to the Sunday Showcase party – I greatly appreciate it. I am a little behind commenting…but I have featured this last week. Hope you have a wonderful week ~ Stephanie Lynn
Be still my heart! I love the flagstone.
Visiting from the House Tour! Love your patio! It looks great and I like the umbrella color choice!
What a beautiful transformation! I love it!
Pam
You guys did a great job transforming your yard! It looks beautiful! I love the stone you used.
What an amazing difference! I love the before photo compared to the after. Gorgeous!
~Shanon
What a great patio! I love the yellow patio set with the green plants and the rock. Very nice! I’m stopping by as the guest judge for the CSI project :)
happy crafting!
Linda
Where do you get that small umbrella table between the lounge chairs? Love the patio…great job!!!
The stone is soooo pretty! Quite a transformation!
I really like the design of the curved steps. Great work!
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