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| Ok, after reading the replies to my other thread, and digging through old photos to find before photos to post, I really got nostalgic. I realized how far the garden has come. I guess working in it and seeing it every day, you forget how far it has come. (and how much work we really did!!)
So...without further ado, here are some before, during and after pictures of our garden room. (There may be a few duplicates from the other thread, so please excuse) Just grass/snow in the beginning - March 2002
Another view...Spring 2003 - starting to plant
Again, another view...Summer 2003 all planted
Ok....that's it. I found many other photos, but none that were almost duplicate positions in the gardens. I really enjoyed my trip back in time looking for these photos. I haven't gone back and looked at them in quite some time. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Your hard work has really paid off. It looks terrific. |
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- Posted by newyorkrita z6b/7a LI NY (My Page) on Fri, Jun 4, 10 at 21:59
| It is all just stunning. Especially that summer of 2007 picture. I love the hardscape you have done. And that big fountain is so wonderful. |
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- Posted by keesha2006 5 (My Page) on Fri, Jun 4, 10 at 22:05
| now that is true beauty..your hard work shows in spades...and sweat :) Very nice...didn't you get a bit discouraged last year with your roses? Those pictures show why you shouldnt....a work of art..magazine perfect |
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- Posted by aftermidnight Z8 V. Island B.C. (My Page) on Fri, Jun 4, 10 at 22:08
| Give yourself a pat on the back girl, that was one amazing transformation. Annette |
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| A dull, plain looking space turned into a true showcase of beauty. Shows what can be done with vision and hard work. You've inspired me, so thank you. |
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| Wow! What a transformation. So much work and love has gone into that garden. Beautiful! |
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- Posted by hosenemesis SoCal Sunset 19 USDA (My Page) on Fri, Jun 4, 10 at 23:30
| Now that's what I like to see. What a heck of a lot of work, and what a glorious result. Renee |
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- Posted by lynnencfan 7b/8aNC (My Page) on Sat, Jun 5, 10 at 0:45
| Oh Mary Lu - what a fantastic transformation - love it. You have every right to be very proud of what you have done :) ..... Lynne |
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- Posted by sweetannie4u midOK_z6b/7a (My Page) on Sat, Jun 5, 10 at 0:45
| Thanks Mary_lu! The 2007 pics were the ones I remembered you posting of the fountain garden. I was all gah gah over it back then. Awesome transition images. I am so glad you photo-documented it. Beyond belief isn't it? Thank you for showing these. |
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| Truly amazing! Very well done, it must give you so much pleasure, and deservedly so. Thanks for the inspiration. |
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- Posted by wonbyherwits z7b NC (My Page) on Sat, Jun 5, 10 at 8:32
| A fantastic garden! Thanks for reposting the sequence together. |
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| Truly beautiful gardens. You have a great eye and should be very proud and I am sure these before and after will help those that are unsure what to do, to see the possibilities of their own spaces. Cher |
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- Posted by cindysunshine 5b (My Page) on Sat, Jun 5, 10 at 9:26
| Just absolutely wonderful and a real testiment to the value of planning and hardscaping. Great great job. |
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| What an incredible transformation from a blank slate to a completely beautiful garden. So, do you find that after 7 years your plan is still the same as when you originally planted it? It looks from your newly planted photos that much of the plant material is still in place today. A testament to your planning abillities in both the hardscape and the plant material. Did you draw up the plans on paper first or did it just flow as you were working in the space? Have you moved much around or just tinkered here and there with plants once you had it all planted? Truly an amazing garden space. |
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| The plan has remained pretty much the same since day 1. Some of the plants in the garden have changed. Some did not do well or died from winter damage. Others succumbed to disease, like RRD on roses on the fence. While others just did not perform like I though they would. In that respect I am still working on the garden. We had no plan on paper to start with, knew we wanted a "garden room" in that location. We talked about it after we viewed the house for the first time before purchasing it. Everything just seemed to flow once we started. We found the brick locally when we were trying to decide how to do the paths, I found the fountain on the Internet and DH is a trucker and just "happened" to be going through the town where it was located. So it came home, along with a small fountain that he fell in love with. Then we had to find a spot for it too. I wanted a swing in the garden, and we tossed around various ideas of how/where to do that. Ended up with the arbor with porch swing. We found the little windows at a flea market and purchased them not evening knowing at the time how we would use them. Even added the shelves below the windows for a place to set drinks on. The only plans on paper we had were the ones I drew up to show the city council what we wanted to do when I went before the board to ask for a variance. We wanted to build the fence 8 feet tall and our city only allows 6 foot high fences. They approved it, commenting that my documentation and pictures went a long way in helping the decision. I had looked through many garden magazines for pictures of fences similar to what we wanted to build. There have been some changes though. We lost 2 huge trees. One shaded the arbor swing and patio and the other was along the fence and shaded the bed that is located there. So now the roses get more sun, but the area gets much warmer! It was very disheartening at the time, as the shadows they provided gave the room a sense of privacy, especially from the second story of the house next door. The first year we lost that tree, I was devistated and only went into the garden room when I had work to do. Spent almost all my time in other parts of the garden. But with time I came to love my "new" garden too. |
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| I showed the pics to my husband. He said, "I congratulate those people!" I ditto him. Your hard work certainly paid off. You should be really proud! |
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- Posted by christinmk z5b eastern WA (My Page) on Sat, Jun 5, 10 at 12:26
| Oh my goodness, what a wonderful job you have done! I just love seeing before and after pics. Doesn't it feel good to see just how far you have come? To see the little things you have planted years ago grown into big, beautiful specimens! Your garden is so lovely Mary Lu, thank you for the pics! CMK |
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- Posted by plantmaven 8b/9a TX (My Page) on Sat, Jun 5, 10 at 12:50
| You have done a wonderful job. It is so lovely. I don't remember where you live. Isn't it your yard that has the picket fence and lots daylilies? Kathy |
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| Yes, I must confess the picket fence and daylilies are us too! They take center stage later in the summer. Although this year many are already sending up scapes. (We also have the porch without a house, if you remember that?) We live in southwest Wisconsin. Used to be zone 4 and is now considered zone 5. That's why I always say zone 4/5. Just depends on the winter which zone it is! :-) |
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| OMG...I just knew I shouldn't come over to this area of GW..I knew what would happen :) I LOVE what you did to your Garden Room, it is beautiful, you must be so proud of all the work and the final results. I showed my DH this morning, and all he said is "and where would you put that?" haha...silly guy, of course I have the perfect spot for it..need to start looking for some "cottage garden plants" now. I just keep coming back and looking at your pictures..its so peaceful looking. Corinne |
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- Posted by organic_kitten 7 (My Page) on Sat, Jun 5, 10 at 17:20
| It is really a beautiful place. I love your room and the work was beautifully thought out and lovely results. enjoy the fruits of your labor. 'kay |
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- Posted by susie_gardener_2007 Zone 7 (My Page) on Sat, Jun 5, 10 at 18:20
| Thank you for posting all of these pictures. I just showed it to my husband and said "Now you know why I've been collecting all those bricks!" I want to do a backyard similar to yours. Good job!!! Susie |
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- Posted by token28001 zone7b NC (My Page) on Sat, Jun 5, 10 at 18:28
| Incredible. I'm again inspired. |
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- Posted by neverenoughflowers 6 SEPA Downingtown (My Page) on Sun, Jun 6, 10 at 15:41
| Absolutely inspiring!!!! I can't believe how much larger it looks with all the plantings, paths and "bones". It makes me feel like "I can do it" when I get inspired to take on a job that just seems too big. I just love everything about it. You should pat yourselves on the back for a job well done. Carol |
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| I remember some of those photos from your blog. The love is very apparent! |
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- Posted by deanna_in_nh 5a/4b (My Page) on Sun, Jun 6, 10 at 18:07
| So fantastic! You have some lucky neighbors. Completely stunning! |
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| I love it! Can you tell me what kind of bricks you used? Were they new but made to look old? Did you buy them from a company? We want to do a path and really like this look so I want to know what to look for. thanks! Tanya |
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- Posted by token28001 zone7b NC (My Page) on Thu, Jun 10, 10 at 18:51
| I wish you were my neighbor. Beautiful work. I'd love to have a walk and patio like that in my backyard. Maybe next year. |
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| Token, remember that swing you bought from your sister's? You could take this lady's idea and do yours that way. It would be so neat! |
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- Posted by craftlady07 5b/6a (My Page) on Sat, Jun 12, 10 at 21:54
| WOW - what a remarkable and beautiful transformation!! And such an inspiration - thanks for sharing :) ~Andrea |
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| beautiful. Love the position of your seating area and the winding brick path. |
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- Posted by maggie_berry z6CT (My Page) on Mon, Jan 10, 11 at 22:12
| Your Garden is beautiful. Thank You for all the wonderful pictures!! |
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- Posted by freezengirl 3minnesota (My Page) on Sat, Jan 15, 11 at 0:57
| Mary Lu, Your garden and all the hard work you put into it are an inspiration. Truely lovely to look at on a chilly winter evening in Alaska. |
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