RikkiRogersBlog

Before I launch into this blog, I just wanted to quickly plug my newest social media endeavor – Tumblr! Tumblr is a photoblog and if any of you are currently posting photos there, readers, follow me ( my username is rikkirogersblog ) and I’ll follow you back! Or, just creep over to my Tumblr page to check out my latest Instagram shots!

I’m happy to present our front yard landscaping – finished!

I have trouble feeling bad about a single dollar that we’ve spent on this project, as it has completely and utterly transformed our property. I heard once that “curb-appeal”, kitchen updates, and bathroom remodels are the best places to put your money when fixing up a home and with the completion of our latest project, I couldn’t agree more!

Back in 2009 when we were house hunting, I remember seeing the first photos of this house before we drove out to take a look. Brad almost didn’t convince me to drive out here with him! The front yard was completely overgrown, un-mowed, the trees were in bad need of trimming, and there was almost no landscaping to speak of. A large, square deck with no railing served as the front porch about a foot below a hideously outdated screen door, flanked on either side by cheap, plastic, “imitation rock” garden lining in a weed-strewn flower bed devoid of flowers!

(There were many problems inside the house as well, but over the years we’ve painted, rebuilt, rewired, and replumbed the interior back into shape!)

The most expensive and labor-intensive part of this landscaping project, but by far the most rewarding, was the installation and leveling of the castle rock.

The gray rocks are quite heavy and while they don’t NEED to be leveled, it looks a lot more professional when they are. That leveling also makes the process about 10 times slower than if you just plunk them into the ground!

The brick patio for the front porch was also quite costly, but really looks nice. It was considerably less difficult and time consuming to install once Brad and his Dad had the sandy base poured and leveled. We’re currently shopping around for a small metal bistro table for it!

The gravel and mulch were fairly cheap, and a few of the plants were given to us by our neighbor Betty who has a huge flower garden! (That saved a lot of money as each flowering plant and bush can add up rather quickly!)

You’ll have to excuse my far-from-perfect before and after shots in this next graphic!

When the Before shot was taken, it was very overcast – near-perfect lighting! At this point, we had mowed the yard and trimmed up the trees (as well as removed a tree that had once stood right in front of the front door!) Also, our new metal roof had been installed at this point. This was a huge improvement as the original roof was in dire need of replacing.

In the after shot, all we need is our little metal table and chairs and we’re ready to go!

Unfortunately, I was shooting directly into the sun, but I think the photo still provides a nice view of the corner tiered castle rock garden and walkway that greet visitors who pull up into the driveway. We’re quite proud of that part, can you tell?

While my pallet herb garden is probably our next immediate project, the back of the house will be our next major one.

And for those of you who haven’t seen the back of the house, you’re just going to have to wait. I’m definitely not going to be posting a “before” photo until the “after” one has been taken – we have quite a bit of work to do back there!