House Renovation: Patio Progress

Posted on | July 6, 2009 | 10 Comments

On July 4th I had the best surprise. I came home from a hellish day at the liquor store to find the hole in my house and garden gone! Yeah! Greg finished up with the wall and pushed all the dirt back. This afternoon I removed a huge pile of rocks that had accumulated on the side of the garden. A little more grading and some top soil and I’m ready to plant.

I think with this garden I should really map out a plant map. I know I want variegated hostas, ferns, a cabbage rose, maybe a lilac or a tree peony. The garden will wrap around the house and continue down the sidewalk. The patio itself will get covered in pea gravel. Hmm now what to plant?

Above the front of the house in early July. My hydrangeas are in full bloom. The two on the left are a little smaller. Greg promised this week to cut a few of the branches of the tree to allow some more light in. Next to the front step I filled some containers with annuals. I’m still on a search for the perfect urn. The terra cotta pots were a low cost solution that works for now. Next year I want to install flower boxes and shutters to the front of house once it gets painted.

3695602543 fe90d158fe House Renovation: Patio Progress

Category: house renovation

Comments

10 Responses to “House Renovation: Patio Progress”

nole @ oh so beautiful paper
July 6th, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
Hooray – I'm so glad the hole is gone! And your flowers look amazing – I'd definitely go with the lilac just for the smell alone, but if you could fit in both the tree peony would look amazing. I can't wait to see how much progress you will have made by this time next year!
0 likes
Emily
July 6th, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
The house looks glorious! Yay for no more holes! Tree peonies are one of my absolute favorites. I love seeing your progress (and living vicariously through your restoration)!
0 likes
Jo in NZ
July 6th, 2009 @ 9:44 pm
Woot woot!
0 likes
Laura J. Norris
July 6th, 2009 @ 11:45 pm
The flowers look so nice
0 likes
Kristen Elliott Jones
July 7th, 2009 @ 9:45 am
I think you need to think about landscaping as oppose to just plants. Think shrubs that have a full 4-season effect. Peony leaves die down by mid-late July, lilacs do not have greens all year. You need to mix it in with boxwoods, varigated shrubs and you want to create privacy. People will see you do everything and your stuff will be exposed. I think creating a cocoon effect will be cozy.
0 likes
Donna
July 7th, 2009 @ 12:18 pm
Congratulations! You might find some inspiration at the Salem Garden Club Garden Tour coming up this weekend (July 11-12) as many of the gardens are smaller courtyard or pocket gardens. It's centered in the McIntire District around Chestnut Street. My own garden at #7 is on the tour, not that I'm blowing my own horn!
0 likes
katy elliott
July 7th, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
Thanks for the tip Donna. I would love to come!
0 likes
Heidi
July 9th, 2009 @ 12:01 am
boy it's looking so good Katy, just amazing. Hx
0 likes
Bree Clarke
July 14th, 2009 @ 9:28 am
I found out last weekend that my friend's father used to live in your house! I told her how you were renovating it and she posed the great idea that whenever you are done renovating you should hold an open house.
0 likes
bishopstone
September 19th, 2009 @ 12:53 am
I have just stumbled across your blog and have been reading all about your adventures with your house. It is so exciting to live in such an old house full of so much history. It’s a good thing your hubby is able to renovate himself.
0 likes