Aug 13, 2010 Posted on Aug 13, 2010 | 2 comments

42/365 – The Backyard – Before & After

It’s finally done!
Many thanks to my brother Fred. Without his help this would never have turned out like it did!

After:
My brother Fred helped lay the flagstone patio in April, ’06. We made many trips with the Subaru to the Virgin rock quarry. The Adirondack chairs are made from synthetic wood (Trex) and are supposed to last forever. I LOVE them. They were custom made by a really nice man from Cedar City.

Before:
November 13, 2002. Not even any fencing.

Here are some more…

I built the trellis’s myself in May ’10. Newly planted ( May ’10) purple grapes to fill in the trellis and enclose the pergola.

The Cotoneaster (small shrub to the left in photo) was the most recent addition, planted June ’10. The 2nd Cotoneaster (not pictured) may not survive the summer heat

My brother also helped install the pergola that we picked up from Costco. Originally white, we spray painted it brown.

I planted the summer blooming Wisteria on the columns of the pergola in the fall of ’08.

The Wisteria is finally thriving after a lot of struggle. This one on the left was hit hardest by the ’09 spring frost we had and suffered the whole season. I am ecstatic that it survived and is now flourishing. This one is the only one of the four that has not flowered.

I ordered 6 yds. of ‘Peaches & Cream’ stone gravel from Sunset Rock in Hurricane. Me & my husband Fred wheelbarrowed it from the parking lot into the backyard. The Shademaster Locust tree which is finally starting to grow more upright and not look so droopy, was planted in the Spring of ’09. Turns out I may have been overwatering it, according to my best friend, Susan. She’s the expert.

The Kiva shaped rock work was the finishing touch. I may still add some more…down the road. The Virgin quarry only has bits & pieces to choose from now. Far cry from when my brother & I got the rock for the patio in ’06.

I had some extra large pieces of rock leftover from the patio, which made a great walkway (right). In the back corner (middle of photo) is the Raywood Ash tree I planted at the same time as the Locust. Boston Ivy and Virginia Creeper cling finally to the rear fence, and will hopefully cover the fence door.

I look forward to the day when the Wisteria covers the entire pergola, maybe in another year or two.

It’s getting there…
Below this trellis are three more Boston Ivy plants (not pictured). I angled the trellis away from the house, as I would prefer the ivy not attach itself to the stucco. These plants were just planted in the Spring of ’10, and they are growing like crazy. I imagine I will have to stay on top of the growth to prevent them from taking over!

Here’s some ‘During’:

Photos by Regina Pagles

2 Responses to “42/365 – The Backyard – Before & After”

1. debi Parry says:

   August 13, 2010 at 10:18 pm

   I NEED FRED! WONDERFUL AFTERS
2. Nancy Boothe says:

   August 21, 2010 at 8:34 am

   This is a fabulous space…what a great place to relax. Love what you’ve done.