The front garden

Here's a few pictures of the front of the house...

P.S. notice the neighbors cat!

The front of the house is finally coming together.  Although my style is to go over the top with flowers, I have decided to keep the front low maintenance.

The bay tree:  I always wanted a bay tree...and plantation nursery had a sale (30% off) so I could get a large one for the house.  There is no place for two matching, as some houses have...so I settled for one prominent one. 

The pots: The great regal pot was left by the previous owner!  I used the pots from the other house, removed the ivy and pelargoniums, and replaced it with orange pansies and little lemon scented cypress. When the pansies bloom it should be outrageous with color! So far noone has tried to knock them down!Cupressus macrocarpa (Wilma) - Monterey Cypress... So, we shall see how it goes!  They were cheap, their outrageous yellow color is appealing.  I would never plant them in the soil...only in pots! 

Blue Agave: And, an act of indulgence...I got a nice blue agave for the front...it looks great...although it maygrow out of its pot very quickly...I removed the babies and plante them in pots as well.  It should do fine here...and I can always cover it slightly if we will encounter a cold winter.

I have the neighbors big rose bush to share and enjoy...we will probably leave the gravel (and get more)...this is a southernly aspect...so although I am tempted for wisteria and roses...I can enjoy my neighbors and make my mess in the back!!!

Patio Set

Well...beyond plants...let's get into architecture! We have a wooden table set in the back garden, but nothing for the front (back) garden near the kitchen...so we are looking at this set....low maintenance and long lasting! However, I found one on gumtree at more than half price and not too far away...we shall see if its available!

Well, patience pays out!  I found a deal at homebase online...for more than half price of other bistro sets...and delivery was cheap too...and in less than 3 days for delivery!  And, we know the prices are higher in the spring and summer...so I believe it is a good investment...so that is the end of that saga...more pics when we get them in the spot we want them!

Although I prefer the ones up top..they were not available and the price was higher...the ones below are more traditional...but either way they will beat wood!!! 

All work and no play

Well...it was hard work...but it paid off....

Snails...I removed literally 100's , yes 100's of snails out of the garden...I have become quite violent with them.....but these lately I just put in a can on top of the other....  I removed some form of blue bugloss (borage)...and realized on the Internet for every part of the tuberous root I don't pull up...it will return!

Croscosmia..
I also pulled up all sorts of south african crocosmia (but it doesn't look like the above)...must need more water...I brought some of mine that is yellow for planting...the garden has lots and lots (but only one bloom ) of orange (probably lucifer)

http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=66
http://www.howtogrow.co.uk/how-to-grow-crocosmia.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3292390/In-focus-crocosmia.html

We also did alot more!

• moved the red Cordy line from the shaded raised bed to the fence....looks good (twice as tall!)!

• killed a tree...emptying out the partially shaded bed to start afresh...killing a California lilac bush that has become a tree!
• may be planting American Heucheras like this in the shady spot instead....full of riotous color

We shall see.....I have been digging up some other bulbs (oops) so I am not sure what may be coming up this spring!  I have at least 4 week rose bushes...I am hoping to get them blooming again!

Hard work will pay off, right?

Frustration!

I am sure I am not the first gardener that feels overwhelmed with a gardening project...especially when you are not starting from scratch! Trying to fit in new plants with old plants, deciduous and non-deciduous, perennial flowers and bushes...sun and shade...uggghhh!  Rome wasnt built in a day, right?  I guess I could toss everything out and start over...but my tendencies toward flowers and a bare winter garden prohibit me from doing so!

Next Steps

So,  here the journey begins....the long haul was 2 miles away...digging up my plants from the rental house and carrying them over to the new house...in a smart car!  With the 7 hanging planters, I have gotten scientific....

• got real moss from the bungalow
• inserted the wicks for soaking up water (part of the pot)
• got gel for absorbing water and mixed it in
• used compost that was left in the old composter
• mixed in slow release fertilizer 
• bought RHS pansies (micro miny when your receive them) for the winter
• planted the pansies....
• I bought an RHS pansy collection insted of a color collection...
• This exclusive mixture comprises 11 varieties that have been singled out by the RHS for their superb garden performance. Fill your garden with summer colours, even in the depths of winter. These pansies are so versatile you can plant them just about anywhere; in pots, baskets, beds and flower pouches™ to create a myriad of colour from this long-lived perennial. Height and spread: 23cm (9”). 
• for the front, I have bought....Viola Angel Amber Kiss (bright orange flowers for the front of the house for the fall!
• now...I am trying to decide if I will put ivy in them or leave them with hanging pansies....
• Today, I am going to put my mini greenhouses together and plant the rest of the pansies...

Before and MidTerm :)

Here is the beginning!  A few steps forward......

Before!

After!