We're working on it!

 One of the most embarrassing things about our new home is that it is the eye sore of the block. We love that we landed on a beautiful and very well established block but it puts the pressure on to keep up with the Joneses! The yard has not been maintained and everything is just a bit shabby/dirty/neglected. During the first 24 hours of home ownership we've met a handful of neighbors and they are THRILLED that someone has bought the house who will actually be living in it and maintaining it. One neighbor, who is a former turf grass specialist who worked for the Redskins (so cool), offered his help as we get the grass situation tended to (we have very little). He also proceeded to tell me how everyone in the neighborhood, "takes great pride in their yard" and "will do anything to help each other out." He wanted us to know we better get with the program and that the 'hood was there to help! Our next door neighbor also told us that we could borrow anything we wanted to "get the place in order." It might be easy to take offense to these comments- but it just makes me laugh because they have all the best intentions and I know it comes from a genuine place. Plus, E & I want our place to be as cute as our neighbors... or cuter- so there! All I have to say to our new friends on the block is "we're working on it!" Enjoy some yard pics to show what we're talking about.

The first three pictures are before we touched anything, before closing. The front had 3 very measly looking bushes that could not be revived so we ripped em out. Also, look at the lack of grass... ew.

Here is after we took the bushes out.

Below is a picture of the base of one of our oaks... there are remnants of dwarf grass (?) there but I think we are going to do some mulch beds around the bases of this and one other oak in the front. The next is a picture of the "bump out" at the far end of the house where we will put a big Japanese Camellia in a week or two. We have discovered many brick surprises around our home... pathways, borders for planting beds- it is awesome! We are going to try and bring back the existing brick paths and borders (and repair gaps) because they add so much character to the yard.

Here is the progress as of this past weekend, we seeded the lawn and put in 5 Helleri Holly bushes. More pics to come when we plant the camellia bush and have some grass coming up! :)

We were able to buy two groupons for a great nursery on the south side of town. $20 for $40 worth of landscaping goodies! (Maybe my sweet husband will also let me go ahead and buy 3 iron window boxes too...

We have also been learning just exactly what we have in the yard. Last week I was walking around the side of the house and discovered a blooming gardenia bush! Now I know that we have 2 HUGE gardenia bushes on the side of the house and I look forward to spring when they will have those great fragrant blooms! Apparently they can bloom again in the fall with the right conditions, who knew! I had to steal this one for my kitchen... too gorgeous not to. Oh and PS, look at how empty that dish on the right is. I bought candy corn on Friday and my husband is a candy fiend. I am going to have to hide these things before he needs dentures, geez.