Indecision

Have you ever had one of your blog entries completely change direction as you are writing it?

My last entry was going to be about my uncertainty with a new garden addition.  But somehow while looking thru my photos, my post turned into something different.

Then I started thinking about it again, so maybe in this post I will not stray.

I always planned this garden to continue to the edge of this picture, and eventually a gazebo would be added.  While doing fall cleanup, I realized I had a lovely pile of compost!

I decided there was no time like the present and extended that garden.

But then,  my kids voiced their displeasure with what I had done.

"Mom, that is where I like to do cartwheels and play"

"That looks silly!"

"What did you DO?"

And so the seeds of uncertainty were planted.

So here is the new addition, before the shaping is done

I do like the curves on the right, but I'm not really happy with the shape on the left. 

And what am I going to plant there that won't make that space feel crowded and overwhelming?

I guess I have all winter to decide

The evolution of my garden

I've always had kind of a 'vision' of what my 'finished' garden might look like.

When I came here, there was only one garden, the one right behind the back deck, and it WASN'T pretty!

We moved into the house in August of 2003.

This first year I had an infant, so I didn't get much accomplished in the garden. 

I dug in the 7 small Hosta pieces from the old yard along the front of the garage.

The perennials in the back garden were split and replanted.

The other perennials I brought from the old yard were planted, and I managed to get some bulbs in.
The Hosta's behind the garage have been left untouched since then, and they are HUGE!

Since my Hosta addiction, I have decided to split these and make room for more in 2014.
The back garden 2013

 I dug up some Daylily's and made way for a garden under my bedroom window.

 The following spring (2004), I planted more perennials and some annuals for color.

In 2013

 I discovered the overgrown rocks at the foot of the driveway.

I decided it needed to become a garden!

2013 and I admit, it needs work!

 In 2005, we moved the location of the kids swimming pool.

That left a big circle of soil in the backyard, so I guess you know what happened.

 

  More on this in a minute

   I also extended the back garden around to the other side of the house

In 2013

 I didn't much like the area by the other door ... it looked NAKED!

 I dug in a small pond and made another new garden.

 2006 an 2007 the gardens were put on the back burner as we worked on the house.

They were still maintained and perennials added, but few photos.

In 2008, I purchased many perennials, roses and shrubs.

The back 'Pool' garden was planted with Roses, perennials, bulbs.

A birdbath appeared.

And the beginnings of the another garden was started with the planting of 3 Bridal Wreath Spiraeas.
The arbor was built.

 And those Spiraea's that started that other garden?

A new fence and Hosta garden!

  In 2013

In the fall of 2008 I also made the island garden behind the house - here it is in the spring of 2009

It really filled in! Here it is 2013

 2009 - 2011 I only made a few small gardens... along the side of the garage, garden shed and fort.
This year they looked like this

 2012 was the new back bed and the Hosta Bed extension

 This year

 Here it is mid first extension. I needed a place to plant those end of season bargains!

Another extension happened after this one, but that's another post!

I think the yard looks completely different, and I like to think much better, than when we came

Another helpful gadget ...

We love pie around here!

Fall time is apple picking time, and also PIE making time.

Country Boy loves apple pie!

Unfortunately, Netty does not like peeling and cutting apples.

Then I found this handy gadget!

 This apple peeler makes peeling and slicing apples so easy.

Simply put an apple on and start cranking that handle

In about 5 seconds you have an apple that is peeled, cored and sliced!

Once slice with a knife and each apple is ready and perfectly sliced for pie!

And since I discovered that Country Boy doesn't like CRUST, I found this simple recipe for a crustless apple pie from Betty Crocker.com

Impossibly Easy Apple Pie

 It is simple to make and tastes great!

Big Country Girl likes to have a slice for breakfast!

YUM!

Apple peeler available at 

Lee Valley Tools 

Trail Camera

The trail camera has been put to use down at the front of the property.

I had hopes that I would catch the Buck that used to travel the path down here and rub up on the young trees. So far, no luck.

I have, however, snapped photos of a lot of CATS.

I'm not sure who they belong to ... the small tabby belongs to the barn next door. 

There is a beautiful Manx too. 

Another cutie, not sure where it comes from either.

A cottontail

 

And Jack is back!

Still no sign of that buck, but the others had better watch out!

Mr Coyote is on your trail!