True confessions. I wasn't too interested in gardening until about 10 years ago. But once husband Kurt and I decided we WERE interested, especially because we had a blank slate front lawn with which to work, we were motivated. Methodical and slow, but motivated. We vowed not to buy a lawn mower, although we did pay a guy to mow parts of the lawn for several years. Not the most thrifty move but a matter of principle for us at the time.
Our mission was to transform our flat, plain, grass-and-weed-covered front/side yards (we're on a corner lot) to a xeriscaped, lawn-free front yard garden without pesticides. Our side yards are still a work in progress. It's taken eight years, but here are the before and after photos (with no photos of the years of plastic-covered grass-killing).
fall 2001
spring 2002
late fall 2009
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24 comments:
Well thank you for this! I absolutely adore Before and After shots - especially wide angles like these that show the whole shooting match.
I hope you and Kurt are appropriately pleased for the wonders you have wrought, and I am proud for both of you. Bit by bit you have evangelized for the no-grass movement, leading by example. Way to grow guys! (and sorry for the pun - apparently I could NOT resist)
Deb--You're quite welcome: I love before and afters, too. I appreciate your praise--thank you! We are happy with what we've done so far but it's never "done" and we wouldn't want it to be, right? (I should be outside pulling weeds right now but am more interested in checking out some of my new Christmas-gift reading material.)
I absolutely LOVE what you have done. I think it looks so much better now. Much more texture and visual interest not to mention the water savings. It is exactly what I want someday. Thanks for sharing.
Leslie--Thanks! It's difficult to capture in the photos, but my husband created a berm on the left, (up near the horizontal stone pathway) by digging out some dirt near the curb and moving it. So, it's not flat like it originally was.
I love Before and Afters, too! We started our front yard overhaul this year, So, basically yer tellin' me I have about seven more years to go before my front yard looks anything like yours, hmm? :)
Caroline--No! We were pretty clueless for quite awhile. You're clearly more experienced than we were, so I doubt your transformation will take as long. However, it's not SUCH a bad thing to take your time...
You have my dream yard. I received Edible Landscapes for Christmas, so I'll be working on turning my front yard into a happy place for fruit trees, veggies, and native plants. You're an inspiration!
What a difference in how it made your landscaping more interesting. One day, I would love to have zero lawn! I have to keep reminding myself that it takes time to build something...and I don't acquire it all at once!
zoomletta--Thanks! That book sounds cool, too.
Amy--It does take time, but it's rewarding. Thanks for the compliments!
Thank you for this inspiration. Aside from its beauty, I like the fact you recognize that it takes time (and lots of work). That's part of the fun, too. You two have really created something beautiful.
Linda--Thank you so much! And it will continue to take lots of time and work, and I hope we can always keep it fun (except for extracting nutgrass!)
Thanks for showing the before pics, Iris. What a dramatic transformation! And what a lovely grass-free garden you now have.
Renee--Thanks! I only wish it were as weed-free as it grass-free. Oh well, ongoing process, right?
Iris, it is the ULTIMATE before and after photos!! I wish I had more "before" photos of my house...maybe I do...but they aren't digital.
Kathleen--My few "before" pics aren't digital either. I scanned two Polaroids and a black and white print. I wish I had more before pics, too.
Iris, Quite a change, look great and I know it took lots of work.
I will add you to my list of Texas bloggers.
Barbara
Love what you've done...even the strips on the awning make it more snazzy! Great work!
LOOKS GREAT!
Barbara, Conscious Gardener, and rodeo Princess--thanks, y'all! I hope to improve the side beds and have before and after photos of those in the next...year? Happy New Year!
Wow! You've done a great job. The yard looks so much better. I'd love to be your neighbor :)
Before and after photos are such fun to see. What an incredible makeover. I imagine the neighbors are green with envy. What you have done is in keeping with the style of your house and so much more interesting than a patch of lawn. I imagine the birds and butterflies are frequent visitors to your patch.
I thought I'd left a comment here, but it looks like not. I love to see before and afters like this. You've done so much to improve your home and garden. You must get a lot of satisfaction over seeing how far you've come. Way to go!
I want it. I want it. I want it. So beautiful, Iris. SO beautiful and your house is bitchin too!
Lancashire rose, Pam, and The Curious Holts--Thank you!!
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