MonkeyPix: Backyard

For Drew's birthday, he asked Joan to share some of her gardening expertise with us. Most of you know that Drew spent the summer of 2002 in the backyard landscaping. He created two beautiful rock walls and changed the slope of the backyard so it is now three separate tiers. In the summer of 2005, he built a pergola that runs up one side of the backyard. It is truly beautiful -- and I am constantly in awe of his vision of the outdoor paradise he is trying to create and his implementation.

I tried to populate the garden with plants...but failed pretty miserably!!! Our soil is like clay and working full time with two little ones did not provide the time and attention plants need. (The good news is the kids are alive and well -- even if the plants perished, so you can say my priorities were in the right place!!!)

Joan bought us some gorgeous plants - vining hydrangea, honeysuckle, trumpet flowers, wisteria and clematis. We also now have beautiful azaleas that line one of the rock walls. Then we have begonias, wild primrose and salvia. A gorgeous lilac plant that I had never seen before that looks like this:

Andy also put in quite a bit of time cleaning up the overgrown yard. And Drew of course, was the muscle that didn't stop...and kept digging holes. It is so exciting to look around the back yard and see all the potential. Here are a few photos recently taken in the backyard -- some that confirm our little helpers are seeing to the watering of the plants!