Monday check in... What did you do over the weekend?

We started out with cleaning, raking, leveling the area next to the patio that we plan to seed:

Before, with rocks, roots, holes, steep incline and a large step up onto the threshold for the basement (on the right):



I finally found someone who had a tamper in stock (Smithtown Hardware) and Rusty tamped the entire dirt area, around the whole patio. Then I went and got topsoil and dumped four bags leading out from the basement to put some seed there if it ever stops raining:



I also wanted to fix an area where the gutter drains in the front of the house. I was going to put one of those plastic things to divert it onto the driveway but decided to get a little creative.

I had bought Lady's Mantle without realizing it can be invasive in optimum conditions - half day of sun, well draining, moist soil. So I decided to put them where the gutter drains to keep them moist but also put down landscape fabric. It gets about 2 hours of late afternoon sun, that's it. Starving it of it's desired conditions, I'm hoping it prevents them from going crazy but that they grow in enough to obscure the gutter downspout.



By the way, all of these rocks were dug up from our own lawn over the past year! I have double this amount in pots around my landscape.



And some other pics of things around my landscape... My monster hydrangea that I've already severely pruned twice:



My new little Lacecap hydrangea in the foreground, birdbath, Moptop hydrangea in the background:








Here's my teeny tiny Mock Orange that I haven't even put in the ground yet. Little 4" pot, it can't even be 5" high yet. But here it is, blooming already and smells WONDERFUL:




Oh and I pulled my trapezius muscle in my left shoulder/back again so I'm not gardening much this week.

That's it for me! How about you guys??

Re: Monday check in... What did you do over the weekend?

We have a lot of work, our yard in over grown but we got started this weekend:

We are trying to get rid of some rocks that the previous owners used as decorative edging around flower beds. After not receiving any return calls from landscapers, I posted "Free Rocks" on our community website and a 3/4 of the rocks are gone now (must have been 70 rocks total).

We chopped down several hedges and are going to pull up the stumps this weekend.

Trimmed hedges that we are keeping.

Mowed lawn (not a project but feels like it).

Re: Monday check in... What did you do over the weekend?

Everything looks great!

We did a lot this weekend (finally)... I just haven't taken pics yet...

-put up new white wood blinds and shelving in nursery

-ordered new carpet for the nursery (installing wednesday!)

-put up PB wall easel over the couch in the living room (as soon as i put photos in the frames i'll post pics)

-put bamboo shades (that were in the nursery) on the dining room window

Re: Monday check in... What did you do over the weekend?

Nothing over the weekend - just fun, Ducks game, went out on a friends boat, relaxed. I'm on vacation this week though and I have lots of plans. We're having our front porch replaced with new stairs added, I'm fixing the back steps, finishing up opening the patio, planting some flowers, working on the garden (edging and weeding) and I might power wash the house.

Re: Monday check in... What did you do over the weekend?

Greenfreak, love all that you did this weekend. Your plants look gorgeous! I love the look of the Hydrangea's when they first start to bloom. And great place for those rocks.

Well we only worked on the house on Sunday, but we got a lot done. Second coat on the blue wall in the Family Room. It looks great! Need to take pics if the sun would just stay out. And we finished priming the Foyer (walls and risers on steps). Tape off steps really sux. Need to pick up Semi-Gloss at lunch and paint risers tonight hopefully.

We finally picked the beige color for the Family Room. Valspar color "Swoosh". love the name.


And we mowed the lawn quick. Hopefully more landscaping soon. We do have some baby grass where we re-seeded, but not all of it. I think we will have to re-seed for the 3rd time after this rain stops.

Message edited 6/15/2009 11:34:36 AM.

Re: Monday check in... What did you do over the weekend?

CAULKED MY BEAMS! Amazing what a little silicone can do, they look so much better already!

Message edited 6/15/2009 12:28:04 PM.

Re: Monday check in... What did you do over the weekend?

Your "monster" hydrangea is encouraging! I planted one this weekend, but it's still small.

I also weeded and mulched my backyard areas around the deck. Need to upload before and afters.