the Backyard B'zmany hands make light work!

This month’s lucky recipient was Jane!  We were saddened, however, that Sharon was under the weather, so to speak, and couldn’t attend. But the Universe smiled on us once again with a sunny and mild day. It seems like whenever we meet the weather is just perfect!

Suzi and Nancy gathered at Jane’s to drink coffee, assess the situation, and see what needed to be done. After missing two month’s meetings due to winter weather, we were all ready to get outside and get our gardening on! So we outlined the day’s projects, marshaled tools, and determined which plants were needed to spice things up, then we headed to Pike Nurseries to drool over the rows and rows of luscious plants, and make the purchases. Did you know that Pike guarantees their plants for life?? That’s pretty amazing. So hold on to your receipts…

Three winter daphnes, three lorapetalum (purple diamond), a camellia and one spreading evergreen

After the purchases were made, it was back to Jane’s to begin the process of placing the new plants, cleaning out the spaces where a little more garden definition was needed, and getting to work. It’s funny how we all seem to gravitate to certain jobs and take up our own mission to accomplish.

We pool resources and tools. Here are some of our favorites!

Jane had removed two dead evergreens from the area in front by the steps leading up to the house. It left a rather large vacancy that we planned to fill with two of the lorapetalum and all three of the winter daphnes. We also have lots of fun gathering all available yard accents and ornaments to be redistributed to more visible and appropriate places.

There's a lot of blank space there!

Some of the yard ornaments that need a new place.

Although we didn’t get a picture of it, the Wonderful Worx mulcher was in attendance, and we were able to process the pine straw and leaves that we raked out of the beds into superb mulch! This is a handy dandy yard tool that will saves hundreds of dollars by allowing you to make your own mulch. Don’t send leaves to the landfill – spin them into gold!!

This area needs help!!

The area above is a bed for lilies, and ground cover. There are some roses as well. It was not well defined, and had become quite overgrown. Early spring is a great time to clean out beds like this, because the plants are breaking out enough to be visible, but not enough to be harmed by raking around them. We raked out all the pine straw and redefined the edges of the bed with rocks.

The new plantings by the steps!

These lorapetalums will grow to about 4.5′ tall – not too tall for the space. They will add drama and punch all year round with their glossy dark purple foliage and hot pink flowers. The daphne will fill out, and when it blooms it will treat guests to a wonderful fragrance as they come up the stairs. We placed the birdbath and bells as focal points.

This frog was a bit of an eyesore before. But we found just the right spot for him, and now he is a handsome addition to the overall landscape.

The church has found a sheltering home

The church birdhouse fits nicely beneath the branches of this variegated aucuba. Tucked into this little space it makes a charming accent.

A new and beautiful view

Now the view from the top of the stairs is of a neat and tidy garden bed boasting a new camellia and the third lorapetalum. Later in the year the lilies and roses will add to the colorful display.

We even styled the entryway!

This would make anyone glad to be home. We Bitchezz are big on details!

The olive oil jar finds a new home, too!

Fortunately Jane had a wealth of things to work with in her yard! We made a triptych of metal vine supports and placed the olive oil jar in front of them. A clematis will weave it’s way through the supports which will make a beautiful sight indeed.

We think that Yard of the Month will be a certainty! This one gets our votes! What do you think?