Last updated on March 31st, 2024 at 10:59 am
Welcome to my garden mini series, phase three. We are in full swing of spring/summer activities and attempting to make our backyard beautiful. DIY landscaping is not highly recommended when you are planning a 1st birthday party, a christening, a 3rd birthday, and a two month trip abroad but if you have the time it can be a great adventure. Mr P and I took on this project as we were sick of looking at grey fencing, a new erected brick wall behind us, and swampy grass.
So far, in phase one, I have given the fence two good lickings of stain, cut out a border, and cut three semi circles, to give it some shape. I also added a few touches to the front yard, some beautiful hanging baskets, flowers around the front tree, and a few pots. In phase two, we added topsoil to our border cut out, black tarp to keep those pesky weeds away, and startied plant shopping and planting. In phase two, you would have also seen my many exciting tweets and IG photos of my new willow tree. I have always wanted one.
Now on to phase three:
I finished the plant shopping. I never thought I would think that it could be so much fun picking out various colors, shapes, sizes of plants, shrubs, trees, and flowers. I was getting really technical too with what color flowers would bloom next to each other and what colors the leaves would be in the winter, next to each other, as I wanted a great variety throughout the year.
It’s hard to tell now, as not many have bloomed yet but I can’t wait until they do, so I can get so much needed photography practice!
So I set to work in phase three getting all these beautiful plants in the ground before the weather turned on me. We bought some bark to spread around our beauties, as I have always liked this look. I added three semi circle, raised flower beds using stone. Its hard to tell in the photos, but each circle is raised higher than the rest of the garden. I did get a little short on bark so there is still work to be done. 
I took this photo as I couldn’t stop laughing in all my crazy ongoings and to do’s, I really need to stop and take a chill pill sometimes. This photo just shows you how easily it is to be rushing about and forget a major thing…can you spot it? Yup, I forgot a piece of the fence to stain! But gives you an example, if you didn’t see before photos of how ugly the old fence was and boring. I still can’t believe it took this long to notice it. It was only when I was laying down the bark right next to it! lol
I also included this photo, because even though it looks finished there will always be bits you need to add, change, or continue to do. I planted two black grass shrubs, excuse the newbie gardener she doesn’t know her botany! I thought the bark would be lighter and they would have a great color contrast. The bark was dark, and as you can see or not see for that matter is they blend in. So in phase four, I will be replanting these elsewhere and getting something more vibrant to replace the black grass. My ivy is growing faster than I thought, I am really excited about it twisting and twirling around my black iron trellis.
I planted a few of these in big pots on the patio. I just love the gorgeous colors and how big they get quick. Although they do attract the bees which I am allergic to but thats worth the risk to have these beauties to look at.
What’s a family garden without a little garden helper? Buba, even picked out his own watering can at the pound store the other day. He kept saying, “I want one that matches Daddy’s”. Yes, you heard correctly, Daddy’s. He is the water boy in this house. I did the heavy lifting, digging, planting, organizing, and numerous trips to the garden center, I know touch life, he can water and weed them! 
I actually bought this before it bloomed and it wasn’t amazingly gorgeous, but I loved the name blueberry cheesecake. What’s not to love about that? But I am so pleased I did because when it bloomed it was stunning. This photo doesn’t even do it justice. 
Mr P is a very outdoors kind of man, so he was ever so proud of his wifey’s handy work, even if it was amateur work. And he did put a few hours of sweat into it as well! Yes, my stones are a little uneven, some of the plants blend with the bark, and one piece of the fence got forgotten in the staining process, but overall I was proud of what I have done so far.
This has also become my favorite new spot to read, have a midmorning snack while the kids nap, and enjoy my handy work. It was a lot of hard work but so worth it in the end.
But my mini garden series isn’t over just yet. Stay tuned to see how I bring this grass back to life, and make it something the green keepers at the country club would be jealous of. Not to mention, some more shopping for some outdoor living and garden accessories, I am so excited to share with you all. You haven’t seen the last of this garden either, as my new friends start to bloom, I will be capturing them all here.
How sweet to have children who help in the garden AND still nap! I do miss those days sometimes…
I know I am about to hit the days where there is no naps and a baby that will be walking soon and won’t just lay next to me while I do things. I know I will miss the young days.
The garden is looking fab honey, and your flower close-up photos are gorgeous! I get the impression gardening is as addictive as blogging 🙂
Yes, I think you are so right. I am loving being able to practice my photography on the flowers as they bloom. So yet another addiction coming out photography! lol I need to get better at close ups and detail. Thanks I am enjoying it. Not finished yet. Stay tuned.
WOW jenny your garden is coming along beautifully now! what are you like leaving the last bit of fence hehe ;), just goes to show its easily done… Enjoy your beautiful garden #HDYGG
I know I couldn’t stop laughing. How did I miss that ? We keep joking that we should leave it like that and it be our little joke because you really can see it or notice it when you are out back. As it’s the far right corner no one ever goes to. hahaha
Your garden looks so lovely! I love rhododrendroms they are beautiful x HDYGG
They are my favorite thus far in my garden. I love a good big pot of them on each side of the patio. Wish they bloomed all year. Thanks hun.
It’s all looking good now! And you have me wanting a Blueberry Cheesecake!
hahaha I know, I almost made one just to get of a theme going on my blog this week. hahaha
Oh it looks fab. Well done – all that hard work has paid off. I too love the name Blueberry Cheesecake!
So nice to have a space outside to sit and chill out – brill! Thanks for sharing x
Thanks Annie, yes it’s nice to look out the kitchen window and admire my handy work instead of just a grey old fence. Can’t wait until things start blooming big and I can share it all. Thanks for hosting.
Stunning garden! Well done you guys x
Thank you so much. Still lots to do like fix the grass and get it healthy and green again. Buy outdoor living furniture and a few garden accessories too. hahaha So stay tuned.
Jenny, you’re making such a lovely family garden – the plants look great. And I love that the tap is low enough for little ones to do the watering!
Look forward to more pictures of your fab project.
Emma 🙂
I was excited he actually wanted to help so much. lol I like to do the projects and enjoy them but watering and weeding hmmm might leave it for the men to do. hahahaha
Looks fab! Although again, stop doing stuff!! x
Sorry I get bored easy and it just seems like a lot because I have a deadline as I am leaving the country for two months. That’s why. Not always this hectic. Lol
Wow, you’ve worked hard – it’s looking great x
Thank you Stephanie. Can’t wait until the grass feed starts helping it so it doesn’t look like it’s dying. Hahaha and garden furniture. Lol
Awesome job on the garden hon! And I love the way Mr P is standing as if to say “Look at all my handiwork here!” 😉 It must be lovely to pick and choose all the plants and shrubs knowing that they will each add a different element to garden throughout the seasons. We just had a fence replaced and a lot of our foliage went with the old fence so I might just attempt to source some nice colourful things to start planting there (hubster’s style of gardening is weed, prune, mow – he even mows over the top of pretty flowers – the heathen!) 🙂 Enjoy the fruits of your labours, you’ve worked so hard! X
Thank you so much. I know he kept jumping in the photo and I kept saying stop taking all the credit you dug some dirt up that’s it. Hahahaha
Aww Jen you must be so proud when you look out at it now. It looks great and will look even better when it is all in bloom, mine is in a very awkward stage at the moment while I frantically try and learn about plants! I’m also very jealous of your Willow Tree, how amazing will that look?! That piece of fence you missed, arghh, must have been so annoyed when you spotted it!! Totally something I would do and my husband would just roll his eyes at me 🙂
Glad I am not the only forgetful one and husby eye rolling going on. I have no clue about plants either. Still trying to learn names!!
It’s looking fabulous Jenny, all your hard work is really laying off! You’ve got some wonderful splashes of colour already, and I’m jealous of your little reading corner 🙂 I’ll be unveiling my new garden project soonish… You’re all going to think I’m mad! It’s all very exciting though…
Oh I can’t wait. You have me so intrigued now!!
You’ve done so well, lovely. You inspired me to get out in my garden today but I had so much trouble identifying the weeds from the flowers. I’m useless. I think our garden’s really quite similar to yours – we live in a two year old new build house but were renting it out while we were in Switzerland. I confess that I’m about to cheat ever so slightly as I’ve called a gardener friend and asked him to pop round this week to give me a little help.
Always nice to cheat. It was really hard work I don’t blame you. Seems like all new builds are similar behind. Although an easy canvas to work with. Glad to inspire.
You’re completely amazing! This looks just beautiful and what a gorgeous place to relax and admire your handiwork. I love a willow tree too….one day, one day….
Yes I am so pleased with it. And the nice weather that has come for me to enjoy it! Amazing. Still a little work on furniture shopping and getting the grass greener and healthier.
Well done the garden looks amazing! Did you fancy coming and trying mine?
Oh your garden looks fantastic. Must try harder with ours
Thanks hunny I am so proud of it.
Oh wow Jenny what an incredible job. You have done so very much is such a short period, it looks amazing. Well done you, hopefully you can enjoy it now 🙂 #whatsthestory
Yes hope the weather stays nice for it.
Wow you’ve done an awesome job Jenny! Loved reading through these transformation posts and seeing the end result. Well done you! X
Oh thank you ever so much for going back and having a look darling. That’s so sweet of you and what a lovely thing to do. I am glad you like the finished results. I need to do a garden tour this summer when I get back to the UK as everything is a lot bigger and in full bloom now.