...maybe a little cottage garden

With spring just around the corner, we've decided that now is the time to start working on the back yard.  I've plotted out a little cottage garden with lots of colorful flowers, a couple of wrought iron obelisks, (hopefully!) an awesome section of wrought iron gate, bird houses on posts of varying heights, and a few stepping stones to round out the works.

For the most part, things are in really good shape back there.  However, there is plenty that needs to be done.  For instance, because Kevin's been working on his studio, we have all of the old files and things from the room when it was dad's office housed on the covered patio.  We've ... errr ... Kevin has been shredding old files here and there, but it's really an overwhelming task for a small home shredder.  We've been waiting for our credit union to host a shredding event, but in the meantime, he's been working away at taming the paper tiger.  Once this area is cleared out, I'll clean up the dining table and chairs, as well as the sideboard and wash all of the outdoors dishes housed in the sideboard.  I'm also debating the pros and cons of an outdoor rug in this area.  

Additionally, along the very back - which is the perfect spot for the cottage garden! - are several shrubs that have become overgrown and were never really all that attractive to begin with.  They've been there for years and I'm not sure why mom and dad never had them removed.  They are really rather random; with the exception of one of the plants, they don't flower, so they're not attractive in that respect.  One is a large, overgrown fern that is only green on the top half - the rest of it is brown and woody.  Two of the shrubs have housed plenty of plastic Easter eggs over the years, but really, they're all well past their prime.  Definitely time for a new, updated look.

There are also lots of random pots that are either empty or contain dead plants, an old (very old!) low voltage lighting system that hasn't worked in years, and the remaining tubes of a drip watering system dad had set up throughout the back yard.  We kept part of the watering system intact, but the portion along the back wall is not a section we'll be using.  I'd rather plant a garden in the above area than have plants in pots along the deck in back of the pool.

We have a small white cast iron bistro set that is in need of a good cleaning and a small umbrella to lend a bit of shade.  The brick patio outside the master bedroom needs some sprucing, too.  Mostly just cleaning the furniture and such, but there are a few not-so-healthy potted plants over there that need some tending as well.  Plus, we'll be working on some new outdoor lighting, in addition to the sweet little lanterns I'll be stationing throughout the patio and yard. The list just goes on and on.

...and so, the big clean-up is on.

Here's a look at what we'll be working on.  As you can see, we have our work cut out for us!

The goal is to have everything finished and in place by the time we return to work after Spring Break.  Wish us luck!  I'll keep you updated on our progress.