Even if horticulture isn’t your forte, not much tops a day in the garden. It can be so rewarding and soothing at the same time, and it always feels like a little miracle when you see something grow from week to week. Since we moved almost two years ago, our focus has been almost entirely on our interior renovation. But this year, we have attacked the yard with a confidence and enthusiasm that we haven’t enjoyed in any of our previous yards. I think it all stems from the fact that we have a plan. It also helps that we really aren’t starting with a blank canvas, which can be quite challenging. We are just making a few changes with the plants and are updating some other features like the waterfall and pond that the previous owners had installed.

The original plans for walkways and plant placement for our yard were all done by a landscape architect. And while it may seem like an unnecessary expense, I am so thankful that the previous owners did it right the first time, and I would highly recommend it to anyone starting with a fresh slate. All the plants are placed perfectly for their needs as well as for our climate, and if they hadn’t been neglected for so long (by the previous owners, and then us), I am sure the yard would still look like the showpiece it was designed to be.

If you don’t think a landscape architect can fit the budget, or if you just want to tweak your current layout, here are just a few of my most recent additions to my garden inspiration folder.

Of course no perfect garden is complete without a cozy little shed hidden away among a stand of trees.

And, for the kid in all of us, the garden wouldn’t be complete without a tree house!

 

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