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Are there many cues when you buy a 25-year old house on a boring, irregularly-shaped lot in a subdivision? Bulldozers shaped the land, men built the houses and privacy fences carved it into wedges, trapezoids and rectangles. There is, however, a slight rise toward the center back of the lot, which we tried to enhance.
I know exactly what the unifying principle is in this garden... it's the same principle that 'unified' every one of our gardens, although it may only be obvious to Philo and me. Underlying everything is our wish to Not Be Bored. This does lead to a rather messy looking garden - the back yard went from blank to busy in one day after our kids helped us bring all the portable landscape items from the previous Austin house - more than 100 containers full of trees, shrubs, vines, a metal arch, hypertufa troughs, the birdbath from Illinois, wooden benches and patio furniture. 
Our intent was to have somewhere to go, something to do, someplace to be - and with luck - something to eat. So far so good. I tried to get the yard from the same angle as in the Before photo above. Click this After photo and it should enlarge. 
This smaller version is my entry for the contest.
The rules say the photo should be under 500 pixels on the long side and when uploaded this was 495 x 359 pixels. What happens now is up to Blogger.Edit 10 PM - website says size rule no longer in effect.
GardeningGoneWild has a photo gallery for the contest, where you can view the more elegant entries.
I love before and after photos. Your hard work as transformed a blah suburban lot into a multilayered retreat.
ReplyDeleteYou've accomplished so much especially given your space. And you've succeeded. Your garden is always full of interesting things to explore when I am lucky enough to get to visit it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful landscaping! Thank you for sharing the before and after. You must certainly be enjoying the results! :-)
ReplyDeleteHow the garden grows. You now have lushness. Sometimes I contemplate the notion of what starting with a blank slate would be like. Instead I meld into lushness.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is certainly not boring any more. It is beautiful. You made your own little paradise.
ReplyDeleteYou have created an inviting outdoor space. It puts out good vibes.
ReplyDeleteI love to see before and after photos. Good luck in the contest.
ReplyDeleteWhat a change you have wrought! It IS fun to develop a space, and I am amazed at the number of things you had available to bring from one place to another!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming and visiting my development post, Annie.
What a lovely oasis you have made in just a few years! I always enjoy seeing the creativity of gardeners , and it was nice to compare the before photo to see just how much you have accomplished.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely, philosophical post! And a beautiful garden. I think you have achieved your goal Not To Be Bored and done it in such with such style. Your garden is always filled with intrigue.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, you've done a wondrous job with your suburban lot. It looks so inviting now. I can see "you" in every plant choice.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteI love to see before and after photos, Annie, and your first photo shows just how much thought and effort went into creating the gardens you have today. I like your idea, too, of "not being bored":) I think the intent of every gardener is to create a place that pleases him or her most of all. You've created a lovely retreat for you and Philo.
ReplyDeleteYou accomplished exactly what you wanted. A lovely space in which you and the family could enjoy living outdoors. Welcoming birds bees butterflies into you life. I can't believe you brought all those plants with you but I might just do the same the next time I move. Good luck with the contest.
ReplyDeleteYou and Philo have created a little Eden with your labor of love. There's never any boredom for a gardener, is there, Annie?
ReplyDeleteWhen we're weary from our efforts we bloggers can visit each other for some refreshment :)
Thanks for sharing the before and after photos. They illustrate so well how much thought and work has gone into your lovely garden.
I love before and after photos too - but I always forget to take before photos - usually because my before scene is too humiliating. Moving is always work enough, but how wonderful to be able to carry part of your garden with you to a new home.
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much for the comments - right now it's so hot and full of mosquitoes the intent of the gardener is to quickly water the containers and fill up the bird baths, come inside and watch the bird fountain show through the window!
ReplyDeleteI brought just a few plants along for the 1200 miles trip from Illinois to Austin. We knew the first house was temporary with no idea where we'd move next. For 5 years I collected plants in containers "just in case" our next home was in Zone 8.
It was quite a surprise to end up here, less than 5 miles away.
Annie
You have my vote.
ReplyDelete