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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Mission Possible: Going Green...A View of Our Landscape

Going Green...A Cautionary Landscape tale?

I am happy to say that this tale looks as though it will have a happy ending. 

This is no small feat at my house. Let's just say that my wonderful man does NOT like to spend any time doing yard work. Don't get me wrong, he loves the end result, he just aborres spending the time required to get the job done. 

I, on the other hand, actually like puttering around in the yard, but I have to be honest, ever since my cancer and chemo, it's kind of slipped off my priority list. I am very fortunate to have a wonderful man that comes once a week to take care of the basics, aka "mow and blow"... (very reasonable). I used to be better about weeding, planting, and maintaining things myself, but since I've been blogging, it's only gotten worse. *Cringe*

 From afar our yard looked fine.
 Nice, even.

 But, then when I really started looking at all that needed to be done, I would start to feel overwhelmed. My trick for a while was to slap on the blinders, and walk away. 

That ended this past week! Thanks to the Mission Possible Garden Party that I am linking to today. I had a real reason to "just do it", and a deadline to boot! Gotta love that. I work best under pressure. 

The good news...I was able to rally the troops to help me. I got my wonderful yard guy, AND Mr W to work with me and get things rolling! We are still having some more done this week, but we are well on our way to our very own Green Acres. 

Um...ok, more like not quite half an acre. Hey, this is Cali. There ARE no big lawns. Just postage stamps.

Check this out...
That's something you don't see everyday at our house! Yep, that's Mr W with a wheel barrow!! (Sorry honey. Hehe.) I love that he pitched in to help me. We went to Home Depot and bought a TON of mulch and plants. I had my yard guy Erik, help plant and mulch. (I planted and mulched too!)

I tried to spruce up front and back. 
 I added new sweet potato vines and coleus to the little wagon at the front door.



 And in the backyard, I planted a variety of flowers in pots and hanging baskets.
 We mulched all the beds, and planted new perennials.

 I love this weird plant. It will be loaded with beautiful little purple flowers soon.
 A pot with a flowering succulent, and lobelia.


 I put a houseplant in one of my extra outdoor containers topped with some small rocks.

 My son and I are trying to grow grapes along the back wall. We planted them last year. I think they will cover most of the wall by fall, if we are lucky! The little guy takes caring for these very seriously. He waters them daily, and reports on their progress. So cute!
 The side yard is a work in progress. There are citrus trees over here. Lemon, Orange, and Grapefruit. We are taking out the stone on this side, and putting grass back in. When we had our dog, she used the side yard to go potty, and we put the stone in to avoid having to look at dead grass here. This encouraged her to go all the way back to the grass area, and we did not have to look at dead spots while sitting outside. The bottom line for me is, I want all the grass I can get. Plus, NOTHING we planted between the stones stayed alive for long. The sun is just relentless here by mid summer. Even built in sprinklers were not enough.


 This wall planter is loaded with my huge hydrangea bushes, but they are in their "sleep" year this year. No blooms, but pretty green leaves. 
 Another small bed beside the house with new perennials and mulch.

 My bloom-less hydrangeas, and a chippy old park bench.

 Our house backs up to mountain trails. We have a lot of wildlife. Good and bad.

 This sun was a wedding gift from my parents, and we placed it on a blank spot on this wall 11 years ago when we moved in. I love how the vines have filled in around it.

 I still have pansies for another few weeks, and then I will change the pots to last for the rest of the summer.
 Pansies will usually die after June here. It gets too hot.





 I am looking for a large sago palm to replace the one that died this year suddenly. There is a little rock filled bed on the left of the pool in this pic with a sad little stump where the palm used to be. We have no idea what killed it. :-(
 I mulched and planted pink dahlias here behind the spa.

 Our new lemon trees are loaded with baby lemons. Very exciting! 



 Star Jasmin, and a plant I love that will be loaded with these little purple flowers soon.

 Someday soon, we will get around to putting in that built in BBQ we've been talking about for 11 years. 

 These boxwood and daisies are still waiting for Erik to plant them this week. 
 Aren't daisies just the happiest?

Well thanks for hanging in there with me on my super long tour! 
I hope you are all enjoying your very own slice of heaven in your yards. I love going green! ;-)

Have a great week! 
I'll be back tomorrow with a new project reveal.
xo
-Lisa
Linking to the following...

good one

French Country Cottage
No Minimalist Here
  NewNostalgia My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

21 comments:

  1. Lisa,
    Love, love love your yard. Y'all have done a fabulous job. Such a cute little sun face with the vines. Looks awesome! You've done lots of work and it sure shows.
    Visiting from the Mission Possible party and now following along your blog.
    Back to work for me, working on a project but will be back to check out more of your blog later.
    Have a great day! :0)

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    1. Yay! So glad you stopped by, and I love that you're a new follower!
      Hope you are having a great day, Jana!
      xo-Lisa

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  2. Simply WOW. Such a great backyard and so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you so much! You should have seen what it looked like before we started. Pretty sad. I love it when hard work pays off in beauty! :-)
      Thanks for stopping by, hope you are having a fantastic day!
      xo-Lisa

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  3. Looking good! We spent the past week doing the same. Finally got my brother to install the new lawn out back (he own's his own landscaping company). I planted several pots using sweet potato vine (my fav) and the same coleus!

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  4. Daydreaming of myself floating in that fabulous pool surrounded by your gorgeous landscaping!

    So glad we motivated you to get your yard spruced up - I do best under pressure too (that's why I was painting and planting in the rain)!

    Love your front porch with the wagon filled with potato vine and coleus - two of my go-two plants.

    What's up with those hydrangeas not blooming - is that supposed to happen? I planted a dozen and this is their second season and I haven't seen any buds yet.

    So glad you joined our party - enjoy that beautiful yard!
    Kelly

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    Replies
    1. Haha! If you're ever in Cali, come on over!

      The hydrangea thing is weird. I just learned this year that they are on a 3 year cycle. Sleep (no blooms) Creep (some blooms) and Leap (bloom explosion).
      I can't believe that I never knew that before!

      I have to laugh at the thought of you planting in the rain, trying to finish!
      I can just see myself doing that too! My husband thinks I have some screws loose!

      Thanks so much for coming up with such great parties!
      xo-Lisa

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  5. Wow, you have a beautiful yard!! I still have the blinders on in my yard. (*Cringe!*)

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    1. Haha! I did too, for a LONG time! Don't feel bad! :-)
      xo-Lisa

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  6. Lisa,

    Thank you so much for sharing this and linking up :) Your yard is amazing! Seriously. I love the sweet potato vine and the side path! *sigh*

    So much inspiration from one yard :)

    Happy Great Outdoors Day!
    blessings,
    karianne

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    1. Thank you! That just makes me smile! Love it when the work pays off!
      xo-Lisa

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  7. You are right next to me at the great outdoors party so had to come visit and am SO glad I did! Your home and yard are beautiful! AHHHH, sunny California. I have never been there, sadly. I am in Pa. We both love gardening. We have luved in this house for 28 years and are in the process of moving! LOTS of work. Have a great day. XO, Pinky

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    1. Well, thanks so much for stopping by, Pinky! I'm actually a midwest transplant. I grew up in Ohio. I like the sunny weather here in Cali, but I do miss the midwest.

      Moving after 28 years! That will be a big job, and adjustment I am sure. I wish you much happiness in your new home!

      I'm off to check your blog. I did not have time enough this morning to look at everyone's links. I love doing that.

      Thanks so much for the visit!
      xo-Lisa

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  8. Your yard looks so beautiful! So happy the husband and yard guy rallied to help you (and so sorry to hear about the chemo -- I hope it's done? and you're feeling healthier?).

    Your yard looks like a perfect place to relax and heal with refreshing pool and spa and those pretty mountain views!

    ... so very happy you shared your beautiful yard at our Great Outdoors link party!

    :)

    Linda

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    1. Thanks Linda! Yes, I am healthy and feel great. (Knock wood.) I just had my 3 year anniversary on the 27th. I am very lucky to be one of the people who won the fight!

      Thank you so much for hosting the fabulous party!
      xo-Lisa

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  9. Lisa - this is a truly inspiring space. And I had to smile when you used the word 'puttering'. My mom and I use that all the time when we're working on different random home and yard projects. I love to putter around. :) And, congrats on getting the pick of your husband with the wheelbarrow, proof that he is totally willing to help. All of your different outdoor spaces are just awesome!! Thank you so much for linking up.
    Karah

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    1. Haha! Thanks for hosting such a great party! Totally gave me the push I needed to get it going! And, it may have been the thing that swayed the hubs to help. (It's for the blog, honey!) :-)

      Hope all is well on your island!
      xo-Lisa

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  10. Your yard and landscaping are just beautiful! I love all the beautiful color you have tucked here and there. I also really like your stone work along the one side of your home.
    CAS

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! :-) It's coming along, but there's always more to be done, right?

      Thanks for the visit!
      xo-Lisa

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  11. Lisa....your yard is stunning....beauty in every corner of the yard...You can tell that you put a lot of thought and planning in your yard which yielded such a gorgeous landscape!

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I love reading all of your thoughtful comments!