Sunday, August 26, 2012

granite curbing


The granite curbing as it now looks at the entrance to our property.
   (If you missed how we found the curbing you can go here and here)



The curbing actually runs all the way to the stone beehive (under the hosta in the forefront), but since there isn't curbing on the other side of the drive and because the granite took a downward curve at this point it seemed like the natural place to stop the curbing for balance in the landscape.   The grass will eventually wrap around the beehive, but we have several additional projects in the works for this area that will need to be done first. (If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen the antique cobblestones we purchased last week!  Too many projects, not enough time!!)



This bed is referred to as "The Brides" since it is planted with Blushing Bride Endless Summer hydrangeas.  In a small opening several feet up in the bushes we planted a single Blushing Bride hydrangea bush- she is called the "Runaway Bride"! 



While Dan was digging in the bed he found this buried horseshoe.  Would love to know what year it was that the horse dropped his shoe!  We will hang it on the tree in the bed (upright, of course) for good luck.



This is how the entrance looked when we first saw the property.


before:

now:


before:

now:



57 comments:

  1. Lovely! The hydrangeas are going to be so pretty as they mature.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love everything you do .. the gardens and the house are all so perfect. I realise how much work it takes but you make it all seem easy , you have both really done an amazing job on your old house.

    I look at these photos and get so "itchy" to be gone from here and to be there, house hunting !
    But I also use your home as a guide to what can be done when we look at houses for sale on Trulia and the gardens are so sad ..
    besitos, C

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a beautiful new entrance! I love the granite curbing and how it compliments the new landscaping. Congratulations on another job well done.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow just love your entrance! !! Love your whole house infact! Have a great sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  5. It looks lovely now with the landscaping and curbing. As pretty as your house.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The way you incorporate stone, especially old stone in your plans is always characteristic and beautiful. The old stones keep any modern designs or installations from getting too new-looking, and the knowledge that the stone comes from the grounds ties into the house's continuity and history.

    Taiwan also uses lots of stone both indoors and out. Much of it is cut and polished, giving a different look and feel, but some is more rough-cut and analogous to yours. I promise when the weather cools (and if it ever stops raining) to collect some examples and put them on my blog.
    --Road to Parnassus

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello, my inspiring friend!

    How are you doing?

    I'm sure I've never been here and seen a picture of your house and haven't said "WOW"!. I'm always coming here for inspiration. You're that good!!!

    Just wanted to drop by to say "hello" and to wish you a very blessed week!


    xo


    Luciane at HomeBunch.com


    ReplyDelete
  8. It looks stunning, I love your sense of humor in naming the hydrangea beds!

    ReplyDelete
  9. As with all you do, your entrance is absolutely stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Joan, this turned out beautifully. I love the way you find such treasures on your property and use them. Truly a labor of love and it shows!
    Happy Sunday,
    Kathysue

    ReplyDelete
  11. I just found your site and am over come with joy to see such a beautifully restored home in one of my favorite places, New England. I look forward to many more entries. Thank you for sharing. Cheri

    ReplyDelete
  12. That was so much effort but it was well worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. The entrance is as lovely as your home. You and your husband are truly gifted...can't wait to see more! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. No need to CURB your enthusiasm here - She cleans up nicely!

    ReplyDelete
  15. all your hard work has really paid off, it's beautiful. much cleaner and a "proper" entrance for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have a magnificent driveway that is need of a bit of love. Much inspiration and hope found in your loveley post.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That looks great! Have you done anything to clean up the beehives? They looks so much better in the new photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh gosh no! They have beautiful moss on the rocks and I wouldn't dare touch them! The difference is probably just the different lighting when the photos were taken (different seasons/time of day) and two totally different cameras;)

      Delete
  18. This all looks amazing! So glad you shared it with us!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Okay, WOW!!! From neglected to manicured ... what a transformation!

    This came at a wonderful time for me, as my husband and I are scheming ways to improve the appearance of the front of our property. Right now, it's pretty shabby ... as we lost two huge specimen oak trees in the infamous Derecho storm in early July. Now that the trees are gone, we are in a position to do almost whatever we want as far as landscaping the entrances to our circular drive, and the circle inside the drive. If we had any clue WHAT we wanted, this would be a lot easier. Seeing your beautiful before and after photos gives me a bit of motivation to see that our property again has an entrance with the proper personality.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So, so sorry you lost your huge oaks- that makes me so sad. I hate losing trees. I used to laugh at those tree-hugger people and now I am one;)

      Delete
  20. huge difference....looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I planted a blushing bride this summer - she doesn't have a cute name like yours, so maybe she needs one now! - and I love the flowers. Soft white with a hint of pink, maturing to a deeper burgundy as they age. And it grows quickly and well. This looks beautiful and will be lushly filled in within a year. Looking forward to seeing how you use those cobblestones!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm guessing you planted that in NJ and not Tokyo?!!;)

      Delete
  22. It looks lovely, and these beautiful pictures represent HOURS of hard work. I know, gardening, is not for the weak. Ha ha.
    Truly, I know you must be thrilled with how this turned out. The granite curbing is just the right touch. What a lovely welcoming entrance.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful job, Joan and Dan. I planted the same hydrangea in Florida and am hoping for success.
    Best...Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  24. Absolutely gorgeous entrance. Your hard work is paying off. You must feel so proud when you pull into your drive.

    ReplyDelete
  25. This looks gorgeous.
    Thankfully you and Dan had a vision for the house and the property when everyone else walked away. I realized while I read your blog today that not only do you 'love the house', but the house is smiling right back at you.
    The special treasures that you have discovered are the reward for breathing new life into this beautiful spot. Not everyone 'get's it' about a home being alive.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh Joan, your home and property are so beautiful. That is wonderful that you found the horseshoe! I hope it brings DECADES of good luck. I am going to get a "brushing bride" when I get to the new place. They sound beautiful, I have only ever had the blue ones. LOVE that bee hive. XO, pinky

    ReplyDelete
  27. Gorgeous Joan! Love the transformation, so colorful and vibrant! I also love hydrangeas, but as you well know, they don't strive so well here in north Texas. I have always wanted to ask you, how much different the weather is in NH than in TX, and how do you like it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Kristel, I would describe the weather differnce as night and day! We experience all four seasons as opposed to just hot-as-hell and hot;) Dallas is an 8 gardening zone and we are a 5, but I have found so many of the same shrubs here as in Texas, though many things that would come back every year in Texas are treated as annuals here. I love it... even the winter, with a passion!

      Delete
  28. Hi Joan,

    I apologize for not commenting for awhile. While looking at the "before and after" photos the first word that popped into my head was "Love"! Also your photo of your chair in the sunlight could be in a Vermeer painting, again..."LOVE"! I was sitting on the beach today with Ruth (you remember Ruth!) and it had the look of September on the water. I look forward to see your leaves turn color!

    Mary, Fairfield CT.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Mary! I was just thinking of you this week and wondering if your daughter was working at the horse camp again this year? Of course I remember Mary;)- hi Mary!! Yes, little signs of fall are starting to emerge. You can definitely feel a change is in the air. Sounds like y'all had a great day at the beach.

      Delete
    2. Yes, I was up in Chesterfield, NH a week and a half ago picking up my daughter at Road's End Farm. She had another great summer there as a counselor!! It is truly her home away from home. She's a junior in college, majoring in nursing. Who knows, she may be the camp nurse one of these years!

      Delete
  29. Beautiful!! What tremendous custodians you are! Stunning! Ingrid says Hi.

    ReplyDelete
  30. wow joan. gosh i need to get outside and get busy. you guys get so much done, i'm so jealous!!! absolutely beautiful work and what a great eye you have for the details. xo

    ReplyDelete
  31. My family would laugh to read this - but I like order and symmetry. I love your entrance with the granite curbing.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Such a transformation - you have impeccable taste!
    Now off to find you on Instagram! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Amazing, I knew it was going to look gorgeous, but this took my breath away!!! Doesn't it make you wonder what they planted above that curbing? Those House Angels did good, very good! (Dan and Big Blue also) :) donna

    ReplyDelete
  34. such a testament to hard work and effort...love that you found that horse shoe!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Joan

    Everything you do is just spot on. The granite curbing is lovely & love the small swath of grass. I can't wait to see those hydrangeas next year in all their glory! Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  36. You created such a beautiful entryway. How lucky to have such a talented husband and one who shares your vision.

    ReplyDelete
  37. It looks really nice! I love the "brides" bed...so sweet! :)

    Hugs,
    Gail

    ReplyDelete
  38. Love it !!! I t looks so warm, friendly, and inviting. Really wonderful job!!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Joan, Dan, and Ella: The driveway is so welcoming. As with everything you do, this is stunning. Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  40. ...i love this...the entry speaks of beautiful and wonderful things to come up that drive...and the horseshoe!...oh my...whose horse was he...the farmer's...or a neighbor's...are his descendants still clip clopping around you?...my first disagreement with you dear friend...we always hang horseshoes(and left over turkey wishbones)pointing down...that way the good luck and blessings fall out on all who walk beneath...blessings laney

    ReplyDelete
  41. What a beautiful transformation!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Joan,
    I adore before and after photos so no doubt I love this post, but even before I got to the before shots I was so envious of your freshly mulched beds...and now with the granite curb...oh I am so green with envy! Especially as I walk up my drive past my un-mulched beds with plants that have been trimmed so badly that I need to replace them...with summer hydrangeas! How wonderful to find a horse shoe...that has to be good luck, right?
    xo
    annie

    ReplyDelete
  43. A Perfect way to welcome guests into your home.Its beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  44. An old horseshoe was found on our property, too! I didn't know you were supposed to hang it a certain way. Good to know! It will be awhile before I can tend to the outside of our home, but your phtoos provide me with lovely inspiration for today! xo!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Joan,
    As usual.....you have continued to beautify your surroundings! Lucky you! I love that you know to hang the horse shoe hanging up, to "catch" good luck!!! I have a fondness for those.

    xoxo Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hey Joan, Your drive looks fab and I love the hydrangeas - especially the Runaway Bride - very funny :)

    Sharon
    xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  47. So lovely. Love what a difference a curb makes! Smart!
    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  48. The entrance looks wonderful. How appropriate to find a horseshoe in the Bride's bed as a horseshoe is a traditional gift to give a new bride to bring her good luck! I gather you will hang it in a tree in this bed, how perfectly fitting. We believe in hanging it with the points up to gather the luck but I like the idea of points down to let the luck fall on those below.

    ReplyDelete

Welcome! Thank you for leaving a comment; you have no idea how much your comments inspire me to keep writing- I appreciate each and every one. Comments are moderated by me prior to publishing on the blog, so if you don't see your comment post immediately it will be posted as soon as I receive and read it. joan