| My little sister, age 24, has bought her very first home. She’s very proud of it, though it’s already gouged her deeply in terms of repairs (it seems the home inspection person didn’t do a good job before she purchased it). She’s been in it a couple of months and I saw it for the first time yesterday.
Frankly, I’m disappointed, especially knowing how frustrated, upset, and tearful she’s been as she’s experienced the pains of homeownership (new roof within your first two months of residence, anyone?). The property is in desperate need of TLC. For those of you living in Omaha, it’s off of 72nd and Josephine, to give you an idea of the area. The other properties crowding around hers are equally neglected.
I know she’s living on Ramen and water for the next 30 years, and rather than injure her pride, I’d like to give her something - a garden to make her home as beautiful as she is.
There are limitations, of course. I’ll be doing the work all on my own and only when she isn’t home, because I don’t want her to know who is doing it or why. Second, I’m moving in five weeks to California and I’ll have to complete the work before then, between two-full time jobs and 15 credit hours of school. Third, my own pocketbook is limited. Fourth, the space is very small and I don’t want to crowd her. Fifth, I don’t know anything about gardening or landscaping. It’ll be me, a stack of books, and a spade, trying to figure out which end I should use to dig.
Some ideas I’ve had: a low, slim hedge lining the street, solar torches lining the driveway, flowerbeds (possibly raised to give the illusion of space?) under her windows filled with low-maintenance, fragrant perennials that are beautiful all year long. She loves Gerbera daisies, I’m hoping to find a similar plant for her flowerbeds.
I’ll take pictures at our barbeque tonight (if it doesn’t get rained out) so that everyone can see it as it is now. I can’t wait to hear everyone’s responses so that I can get started! |
