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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

the terrace wall bed




So.... here's one of the too-many-to-count exterior projects we've been working on this summer.   It's not complete, but I thought you might like to see what we've been up to just in case you were thinking we've been sitting in the barn room eating bonbons!
This is the "terrace wall bed."  The dry-stacked stone wall was built during the barn renovation several years ago.  This area is seen as you drive up the gravel driveway that leads to the garage (which is under the barn room.)  The last couple of years we've been landscaping areas on the front of the house and at the road, so up until this spring I really never gave this area any attention.  Every time I thought about designing this area I drew a blank.  We constantly use the granite steps coming down from the terrace, so I knew that we needed to extend the path somehow, but again I was focused on other areas and just couldn't "see" it, so I decided to save this project for this year.
The wall itself has two tiers for planting.  We planted the river birch almost two years ago.










Earlier this spring I finally came up with how I wanted this area to look and the design.  It started with a boxwood lined path down from the large granite steps. I have several varieties of boxwoods in different beds on the property and I really like the Green Velvet boxwood.  I chose this variety as what I wanted to use to line the path.  Several days later at Costco (of all places) what did I find, but Green Velvet boxwoods!  I had to make two trips one morning to get all 27 home (also planted some in pots)! 





Dan and big blue then prepped the area. 





Love a clean slate.





We contemplated using antique bricks that were removed from the dining room chimney during the renovation, but we worried we didn't have enough and Dan really wanted to use antique cobblestones, so we did.





The large pile of dirt behind Dan is "screened" top soil that we have delivered, and then the small pile is the "good dirt", as we call it, that has been amended for planting.  We've always mixed our own dirt (here and in Dallas) when landscaping and I think that is a big factor in our success rate with new plantings.  (Let me know if you're interested and I can do a post on our mix and planting process.)





The walkway follows the same curvature as the granite steps leading down from the terrace.





I initially thought I would use gravel for the path, but with the stone wall, the cobblestone edge, the gravel drive... it was just too much stone, and we decided to lay grass between the cobbles. 





Our gardening assistant!  Couldn't do it without her;)  Notice the trees behind Ella.  I've been obsessed with wonky trees lately, and these will come into play a bit later.





But wait....  having gardening A.D.D., Dan mentioned the idea of lining the edge of this front bed with stones as a way to keep the bark mulch out of the gravel drive.  I realized I did have enough old bricks for this project and, of course, it then needed to be done immediately!  Do you experience gardening A.D.D. too?!  For the record;) I laid all these bricks.... just sayin'!
 





Back to the terrace wall....  the boxwoods placed for planting.





One side planted!  You can also see that the tier-beds on the wall are slowly (as I find plants) being planted.  They are all perennials in white, blue, light pink, purple and sage colors.





If you're in southern New Hampshire, Dan highly recommends Tim's Turf in Litchfield for grass. After ordering, the grass is literally cut and rolled from the field the night before you pick it up (as opposed to Home Depot's or Lowe's where it bakes in the sun for days;)  The price and quality are both far better than HD/Lowe's also.  Tell Tim, Dan sent you!





The cobbles at the gravel drive haven't been set yet, so that is why the grass isn't finished on this end.





Lest you think I only design, supervise and photograph)...  I am also the manual labor!  It was in the 90's on this planting day.





So, we still need to finish the grass, then between the boxwoods and the stone wall I want to plant Bombshell hydrangeas.  They stay small in height, so they won't hide the wall.  I need about eight to ten 1-gallon plants to fill the space, but can not find any.  (I did find 3-gallon ones for $40, but with the amount I need that's out of my budget.)  If you're in NH/MA/VT/ME and you run across any 1-gallons please let me know.  Will drive for plants!





Closeup of the perennials in the stone wall (prior to mulching.)





To the left of the boxwoods, three of my wonky trees:  Chamaecyparis obtusa Gracilis, or Hinoki False Cypress.  They will stop your eye from going straight ahead when you approach the garage area and guide your eye up the path and granite steps to the view beyond.





And since that project is almost complete, it lead to the next one....  Last weekend we went for a drive to take a break from yard work and what did we do, but stop in a nursery (looking for the bombshell hydrangeas) and found some gorgeous Canadian hemlocks to plant along the inside of the meadow at the road (think winter privacy.)  They're large, so it entailed renting a mini excavator to dig the holes.  It's 91 degrees today, and no one wants to be digging holes!  


I overheard Dan telling someone the other day that when it comes to the yard work, we don't have an "off" switch.

Soooooo true!
(I can see all of you nodding right now;)


111 comments:

  1. Lovely stone wall, it will look amazing when the perennials start taking off and blooming. Like the look of the box woods lining the sidewalk, such great curb appeal....

    Have a lovely week....

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  2. My, you have been quite busy this summer and everything looks lovely! It is quite dry out here in Abillene, TX, so I'll have to enjoy your gorgeous landscape and live vicariously. Hope you find the hydrangeas soon and can't wait to see the finished product. Well done!

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  3. Oh my your entire garden is amazing and so beautiful, This new area is going to be gorgeous too. I would love for you to link to my Inspire Me party that is live - - -http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/07/173rd-inspire-me-tuesday.html Hugs, Marty

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    1. Marty, Sorry, but I've never "linked" before and wouldn't know how. I'll add it to my blog things I need to figure out!

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    2. All you need to do is click on the "link up" box or whatever it is that she has on the bottom of her post. Nothing to it, it tells you what to do. It would be a shame not to inspire others with your hard, gorgeous work! Just sayin. :-)

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  4. I would love a post on your soil recipe. Maybe that is why some of my plants just don't survive but then I don't have the energy you two seem to have. As always...love how this is turning out. Waiting to think things through really shows with everything you guys do! The grass is perfection instead of gravel! Strange to think you are getting Texas heat but blessedly you don't get this humidity!!

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    1. Actually Debe, we've been having terrible humidity lately. The mention of "this feels like Texas" has been said numerous times over the last couple of weeks;) Stay cool!

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  5. Looks amazing!! You must be so pleased with all your hard work. Don't you treasure it so much more, too, when you do the labor yourselves? Ella is the cutest girl ever (next to my Maddie, of course)!

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  6. I'm in Walpole and am enjoying your New Hampshire house stories. Thanks for posting!

    Gin

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    1. We love Walpole Gin! You know Jenny from "Dear Lillie", yes?!

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  7. Everything looks wonderful Joan. Certainly a labor of love this summer!
    I will keep my eyes open for the hydrangeas you are looking for. You've probably already tried 'House by the Side of the Road' I imagine. Hydrangeas are one of my all time favorites, especially the deep blue. Makes my heart skip a beat.
    Stay Cool!
    Fondly-Lisa

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  8. You have been busy. It is looking fabulous. I would be interested in hearing of your soil mix if you would like to post about it.

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  9. This looks great!!! Love the hydrangeas!

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  10. Incredible, absolutely beautiful. I love the perfect curve of your walkway and the little boxwoods are wonderful. They are a great shade of green too.

    Cindy

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  11. I too would love your "recipe"...it all looks amazing...and what a view you have! I always forget how green New England summers can be...although as I'm writing this it's been pouring buckets...and they're ending up in my kitchen seeing as how the wall has been torn down...I guess it's kind of "wash your car and it will rain"? This kind of rain in Texas in July?!?

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  12. I found my Bombshell Hydrangeas at Home Depot this year of all places. Strangely, not one of them bloomed, and I have great success w/ other hydrangea varieties on my property (Williamsburg, VA). I also needed a smaller variety in another spot and "Little Lime" did great. Made me wonder about the Bombshells...
    I would love to hear about your soil recipe! Happy Gardening!

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    1. I have a row of bombshells in the courtyard and I, too, found them at HD a couple of years ago. They didn't bloom well last year (which was their first full year in the ground), but are happy and blooming this year so perhaps yours are just getting established and next year will be their year. They are wonderful hydrangeas. I also have some of the Little Limes and love them too.

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  13. Joan,
    This is beautiful. I love the design and the plant material. Great job, you two! (oops, I mean 3 with Ella) :D

    I would love your recipe for great planting soil.
    Karen

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  14. So lovely! And I've learned so much by the way you talk about the design process and your design goads. Thank you SO much!

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    1. thank you Barbara... that makes me happy to hear that!

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  15. Garden A.D.D, consider me diagnosed!

    Looks beautiful Joan, and Dan, and Ella! :)

    xoxo,
    A

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  16. I can't believe you've been doing all that work in this weather. Brutal! The boxwood curve looks great and I love those hinoki cypress. Also love how the birch softens the stone terraces. Very smart.

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  17. It looks fabulous. I can appreciate all the hard work that went into it. Love your stone terrace walls - I'm terribly envious. Funny how you cleaned out Costco. I found Bombshell hydrangeas at the end of the season last year at Home Depot that were really cheap. They also had a ton of them the last time I looked at our local store, so they'll probably have some left later in the season. If you can wait, it might be worth checking on. We planted them last fall and weren't sure they'd make it through the winter, but they all came back just fine. As for the Canadian hemlocks, I hope you don't have the hemlock adelgid up there. The insect has decimated the hemlocks in our mountain forests and huge trees have been wiped out in the last five years. Now the woods are full of gray ghost trees. So very sad. We have a large number of hemlocks on our mountain lot and have to treat them with insecticide every few years - but they're beautiful and worth preserving.

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    1. that's true here too Carolyn... they start to get a lot of hydrangeas at the end of the season, so I will just have to be patient! Dan will appreciate the digging holes break! We're the 'granite state' and there are rocks in every hole one tries to dig;)
      That is so sad about the hemlocks. Thankfully I have not seen that here. Yes, definitely worth preserving.

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  18. That turned out fabulous! Those Bombshell Hydrangeas will look great there. One of my small garden centers will order plants for me, especially if its early in the season. You can't count on the big box stores for plants like that. I've ordered from Bluestoneperennials.com and their plants come in healthy and packaged well. They do show them on their web page, but you have to order them for next year now. Your new plants look great next to the walkway area. You're definitely good at design!

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  19. Would love to have your soil amendment recipe. Make friends with your Costco Manager and she might call you when they get shipments of plants. Ours had lots of hydrangeas one day, but they sell out quickly.

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  20. Would absolutely love to learn more about your planting mix and process. Will keep an eye out for the Bombshells for you!

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  21. You make it all look so quick and easy and yet it must have been damn hard work. The results are amazing. Your garden and what we can see of the house look just beautiful. Summer at your place is certainly lovely.

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    1. yes... damn hard! We feel like we've been at gardening boot-camp! Today we're taking a "day-cation" and the day off!

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  22. Love your stone walls...gorgeous! That was a brilliant idea to plant those boxwoods...I missed them at Costco this year. Yes, I would certainly like to see your recipe for soil...I have garden ADD too! It's ll looking great! ;)

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  23. We have inherited along with this house, a huge garden that is overgrown and overplanted.
    We don't know where to begin ! We have the idea ( after gardeners coming and giving advice) to wait til Fall, then cut everything back to an inch of its life and see what happens next Spring.
    Trumpet vines are now devouring the pool, pool house and us next !
    I guess the next step is I should look for old bricks ?
    Kisses to Ella.. you too, C

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  24. It looks absolutely beautiful! Your dear husband must be on vacation that you guys are gardening no matter how hot it is!! Here in NJ it is just tooo tooo hot to garden.

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    1. no... I'm afraid it's just what we do;) Call it nuts!:) In Dallas we were known to plant in 100+ heat (and they survived!)

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    2. My HD has a lot of 3 gallon bombshell for 24.99 and they are all now 50% off!

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  25. Texas has prepared you for this summer! It's been brutal, but I also cannot stay inside, after all the rain, we can't keep up with the grass and weeds. It looks great! I will keep an eye out for the hydrangeas, down here in Virginia, and if found, I can transport up to Connecticut. :) stay cool and hydrated, and garden on! donna

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  26. I think if I lived near you I'd have to beg for us to be best friends -- I mean you and Dan both, lol! I would have been right beside you. I adore garden work, the labor and connection to the earth. It all looks so incredibly beautiful. What a labor of love and talent!

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  27. Joan, your grass path lined with the boxwoods is perfection! I can't wait to see the perennials all filled in next year! Be sure to take some breaks and eat those bonbons in the barn room!

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  28. I had to take a pause from reading to scroll down and say YES!! I'm very interested in learning your mixing/amending/planting process!

    OK, back to reading the post now...

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  29. Wow! I feel like I'm pretty talented when it comes to interiors, but I experience blankness when it comes to garden design. So yes, please! Do a post on your planting process! :)

    Looks great, btw!

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    1. Also, your tips on digging up and moving plants would be great too!

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  30. Wow your such a inspiration for us who love yard work ! Your home and yard is just so perfect ! Do me a favor don't ever stop blogging !

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    1. Thank you Andy, that is so nice. Us "love to work in the yard" people are a crazy bunch, don't you think?!!:)

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  31. Please tell how you prepare the soil.

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  32. Only you would have a soil recipe - you and Dan are unbelievable. I'm impressed and feeling rather lazy after reading your post. It looks so pretty and fits the character of the property perfectly. I think you might need to hire a water boy!

    Your Reverse Cypress are the nicest looking 'wonky' tree's - i love them {a little bit Doctor Seuss don't you think?}.

    Hoping you are sipping mint julep's or a cracking open a well deserved bottle of vino. Enjoy!

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    1. ahhhhh.... a pool boy, oh wait, you said water boy- yes, that would be nice too;);)
      Yes, very Dr. Seuss! And I was drinking a glass of wine when I read your comment last night, thank you! We didn't come in from the yard until 9 pm and only then because we couldn't see any longer:)

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  33. Woman, you, Dan (and Ella) amaze me. What you accomplish is always inspiring. I would love the soil recipe as we are busy "starting all over". Never heard of those particular hydrangeas but now want to look for them. We are boiling here in Pa. too. Awful. XO, Pinky PS, how will you mow the new grass?

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    1. I was wondering the same thing about mowing the grass between the boxwoods...

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    2. We have a push mower (besides Big Blue) for around the house and hard to get to areas!

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  34. Fantastic design! I'd love your soil recipe, also. And could you share exactly what perennials you planted in your terraces?

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    1. Terry, I have Grosso Lavender, Ferns, Sedum Tricolor, Astilbe 'Sister Theresa', Ansonia 'Blue Ice', Silene Schafta, Gaura Lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' (love this plant!), Spotted Dead Nettle, Veronica 'FirstLove Speedwell' and 'Royal Candles', Blue Pacific Shore Juniper, and catmint (Nepeta) in 'Blue Wonder' and 'Six Hills Giant.

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    2. Wow! That's for that exhaustive list. From the pictures it didn't look like you planted that many varieties. Thank you!

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  35. Hello Joan, I am in awe of all you hard work, especially with stones. Today I brought home one not-so-heavy rock from a river bed, and am tired out from it. At least the stone was a cool one--a curved trim piece from where millstones were roughed out in the quarry.
    --Road to Parnassus

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  36. Thank you for sharing this, Joan! Landscaping really is some of the hardest work that can be done by a homeowner. But very much worth it, and appreciated more as the years go by. Everything you've done here is so beautiful, and will continue to evolve in its beauty as the seasons go by. The boxwoods and river birch alone will provide some great winter interest there in NH. (Yes, you move north and learn the importance of "winter interest" in the garden when the growing season is so short!)

    I often peg the knowledgeable gardeners at my local landscape supply stores, and ask them about various plants, soil conditions, maintenance, etc. When I was planning a cutting garden, one gardener told me the best step I could take was to amend the soil prior to planting. I did--the fall prior. I recall peat moss and mushroom compost... and lots of shoveling. :-) It was well worth the time.

    Would love to learn more about your special mix!

    Angela

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  37. P.S. Joan, if you don't find Bombshell Hydrangeas, perhaps consider Annabelles. They may grow a bit larger. But the blooms will appear on new wood, so you can prune them if they're getting too big. I have a few, and they are excellent. I've also cut a few of the shoots, plucked them into the ground in other parts of my yard, and watched them grow from there.

    Good luck!

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    1. I adore Annabelles- they are my favorite hydrangea! I just think they will get too large and cover the beautiful stone wall. I wish I would have planted them at the entrance to the property last year where I planted Endless Summer- they should call them Endless Watering All Summer. Always thirsty. The Annabelles that I planted at the same time are all happy and need no extra attention. Lesson learned!
      I am fascinated that you cut shoots and they grew! Will have to try that.

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  38. joan the grounds to your house are so incredibly gorgeous. i love this latest project. i could really use your team, esp. ella. :)

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  39. Every time I read one of your blog posts I am so grateful you returned from your hiatus. I am in awe of the many, many talents you and Dan have. How in the Hackensack do you guys know so much about so many things? You are a true inspiration. Best, Beth C.

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    1. ha Hackensack! I think it's because early on in our marriage we couldn't afford to hire things out, so we had to learn how to do them ourselves!

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  40. Everything you have is simply gorgeous - the yard, the house, everything in the house.... I can't even imagine how nice it is to live with all that gorgeous stuff. I'm loving the yard but I'm wondering if you are going to be able to mow the grass in that path? A rider won't fit I don't think, so will you have to do it with a push mower? It's gorgeous tho.

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    1. Thank yo Jo! We have a push mower for around the house and hard to get to areas.

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  41. HI Joan, the grounds are looking so beautiful, and I had to laugh, we have no off switch either and lugged home over a half ton of little boulders for lining our side yard in 90 degree heat. What's up with that!??! We are starting all over again, and are manic to create a lived in yard from scratch. (BTW, you graciously answered a sightseeing question for me, as we were going to NH for a visit, but then our house sold, and plans were delayed. We WILL visit there though, on our list of places to GET TO!) And I have to agree with the Annabelle suggestion. So far mine is doing well in poor soil and has a ton of blooms. Keep up the great posts...I read, but rarely comment, but know that there are probably many like me, just waiting for your latest post! :)

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    1. Congratulations on selling NnN! Like Pinky ^^ I remember that overwhelming feeling of starting over with a new yard in this house. But, with on plant at a time it will happen! Thanks for being here/reading and for leaving a comment today!
      Annabelles are my favorite! So pretty and such easy keepers.

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    2. And I DO have brain freeze....I meant to type Bella Annas...a pink Annabelle. It stays small too, 3 to 5 feet, but blooms on old and new wood, so can trim to size. I chose this one for this new garden for my mom, Anna. And I know what you mean, one plant at a time, or in my case, 4 or 5 plants at a time :) ...I am lucky to live close enuf to volunteer regularly at an arboretum, and my new arb friends bring me lots of starts (we are all gung-ho gardeners!!!)! That has made this transition so much easier...I am truly fortunate!

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  42. Is there anything you can't do?! It's absolutely lovely. I love a beautiful landscape and adore the plan you devised. You can landscape my yard any time! lol :)

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  43. My goodness....so much work....but how beautiful!

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  44. WOW!! I just love the evolution of your house. And I can't wait to start on ours! It's so hard to be patient. I just want to start ripping down walls!

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  45. You and Dan are such an inspiration!

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  46. Yes, I have garden ADD, but also garden OCD...it's when you want to pull weeds while on your walks and trim your neighbor's Japanese Maples correctly. ; )
    Everything looks great! Somebody told me once that gardening is one of the best things you can go for exercise. I think you are feeling it!!

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  47. While I love to support local nurseries, I have to admit that we bought most of our new plants this year from Costco. The price can't be beat, and the quality is usually great, and they guarantee survival over the winter. We returned a few trees that did not survive last year, with no hassle what so ever. You just can't beat that! Now, if only I could grow my beloved boxwoods in our zone 3 garden :)
    As always, your home and garden inspire

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  48. Yes, I am afflicted with gardening ADD. I can be mentally engaged in a project, and out of the corner of my eye see a patch of weeds I missed on the other side of the yard and I CAN'T not go and tend to it. Which will lead into thinking that some plant would look better over there, next to that one.... and so on and so on. sigh.

    What I want to know is how on earth do you (Dan) get that excavator on your lawn and move it around to dig for the trees without tearing up your grass???

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    1. We (he) didn't :O.... it 'did' tear it up. He even chose this one to rent as he thought it would be the least damaging to the grass. We were both shocked at house destructive it was:(

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  49. Well I have never seen Dan but I am in love. :) Do you know how lucky you are?
    The yard looks beautiful. I would have a hard time deciding whether I wanted to sit inside or out. My what A decision.
    xo

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  50. Hey Joan just wondering if you have heard for trina over at a country farm house alot of people is wondering how she is .

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    1. I have Andy, and she is well, just super busy. I will tell her people are wondering about her.

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  51. Please post your soil mix and process..... it is obvious you have a "good recipe". And I love boxwoods! Your hard work is beautiful!

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  52. How much are you looking forward to seeing all of those plants grow and fill in? When they're first starting, I can see the progress--and in my mind I can see the results that I'm aiming for--but all of the blank spaces sometimes make me a bit impatient. I admire all of the work you're putting in. I'm on vacation this week, but it's so, so hot outside that I can only do so much gardening. I'm feeling a bit guilty and frustrated, but trying to console myself with the knowledge that there's other things to do (including spending time with our own brand new gardening assistant, our rescue dog Baxter).

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  53. Oh the joys of gardening in July heat! Loved this post. My arms look like yours as I just finished ripping up most of my front yard and putting in garden beds. Now I'm on to the backyard to finish a mixed shrub border. Such fun!

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  54. Hi Joan
    Love the garden. I don't know how you work in the heat. I like to garden in the cool.
    Regards
    Karen

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    1. me too Karen;)! But our season is short here, so have to make hay (as they say) when the sun (and heat;) shine!

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  55. I so enjoyed this gardening post, you and Dan are amazing with all you can do! Your blog is an inspiration as we will be building our "dream home" next year, and I'll probably have to steal some of your ideas!

    And YES! I love to hear about your special soil mixtures!

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  56. hello joan, dan and ella, the landscaping looks wonderful, just lovely and naturalized. i also adore the barn room- so beautiful. congratulations to all three of you. best, robin in umbria

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  57. Been doing landscaping around my own yard lately and I know, its HARD work! Well done, its looking beautiful!

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  58. The boxwoods lining the path are perfection!! I love your land and all of it's wonder!

    xoxo
    Karena
    2013 Designers Series & Giveaway

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  59. Such a grand enterance for a grand house- I LOVE boxwoods, the perfect choice!

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  60. You are so blessed! Your home and grounds are lovely! Oh, to have your talent too! Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Thank you Genny. I am indeed blessed and grateful every day.

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  61. ...i am pretty certain that no farmer anywhere ever worked harder than you and dan...and no farm dog anywhere ever had a better life than sweet ella...blessings laney

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    1. Well, I'm not so sure about the farmer part when you see all the miles and miles of stone walls in NH, but I agree about the farm dog part!!:)

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  62. I love buying new plants. Unfortunately, I usually buy them and have to find a place for them. Please tell us about your soil prep and mixing. I'm always looking for ideas on how to improve my plantings.

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  63. much older sister SusanJuly 19, 2013 at 10:25 PM


    And to think that you never had to do yard work when growing up!!

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    1. Dear MUCH older sister Susan, Excuse-moi, s'il vous plait... I had to sweep the street after Daddy mowed, I had to pick up pears, I had to hold up the swing set swings so Daddy could mow under them, I had to hold the bag while Daddy raked leaves.... under child labor laws that constitute 'yard work!' If only I had known then the "I just got a manicure, I can't help with the Thanksgiving dishes" excuse that worked so well:):) Ahhhhh, sweet memories!! :)

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    2. much older sister SusanJuly 20, 2013 at 12:07 PM

      Yeah, I was thinking about that Thanksgiving excuse too! One of my sweet memories is teaching my 16 year old baby sister how to make a sandwich for her daddy when he asked her to make him one and she said, I quote "I don't know howwww." heheheheh

      You were just a teensy bit spoiled.

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  64. All I can say is, WOW! You really make things happen. I feel like such a wimp -- we've lived in our home for so long now, and there are still so many things undone. We've become terrible procrastinators. I can tell the word "procrastinate" is not in your vocabulary, Joan.
    Claudia
    P.S. Love the photo of Ella on the mats!

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  65. this landscape designers jaw is in my lap,OMG, how lovely!
    oh that dry stacked wall.......one of the most beautiful i have ever laid eyes on, well at least a modern wall vs ancient irish walls, your views, the design in it's entirety.....OH MY!
    kudos!!
    debra

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  66. Joan,
    I'm catching up from being away. My English boxwoods are really suffering in this heat :( How are your Green Velvets doing? I might have to slowly replace some of our box.
    x Loi

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    1. Since these are newbies and planted in full sun they get watered every day, so they are doing fine. I also planted some in terracotta pots and they get watered everyday too,so they are very happy. The ones I have planted in a bed, only get partial sun but no special water and they are doing great. Sorry about your English bowwoods. It's such a pain to have to replace boxwoods :(

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    2. This has been such a tough season. First the rain everyday, and now temps in the 100s. I will be checking our Costco for boxwoods!

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    3. Loi, my Costco has dismantled their outdoor plant department. I think it is an early season thing they do. Hope you can find some good boxwoods for replacements.

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  67. The green plant life and the stone textures are just gorgeous! Great planning and execution. Nice that you were able to re-use the old bricks, too.

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  68. Ooo, everything looks amazing!!

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  69. I love gardening post its looking so amazing thumbs up for your hard work you make it best as heaven.I am totally inspired by you thanks for your post

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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