First Layer

 The grass has never done well in the

backyard so we decided to just plant some

shade tolerant plants along the edges and a 

beauty bark path down the middle. 

This is the start of our project

This spot doesn't get any sun except maybe

an hour or so very early in the morning in the summer

We are thinking of building up the soil to match the 

railroad tie holding in the gravel at the base of the steps

 If we start watering more this area under the deck could

use some more shade plants too.  We planted that small

plant in the middle in the front

 and some others at this end near the patio

 I like columbine so I got one of those too, but it

takes more sun so it's along the fence.  This part of the 

backyard gets the hot sun in the summer for a little 

 bit but no sun in winter

 Maybe we will develop this corner if we are going 

water more

 We cut back the rhodies so we need some plants

down in front

 and on this side of the red rhodie too 

 Another view of under the deck

Out from the patio toward the end of the stairs 

These may be too low for another layer to go in front of

I'm not very good at being a master gardener

Yard Work

I got outside today and helped Walt take out 

all those ugly railroad ties along the flowerbed

 We need to haul in some peat moss and fill in some 

of the holes a little better.  And til some into the sand 

we have so we can get something that will grow in shade

 All the railroad ties and cement posts.  Ugh!!

I like to trim the rhodies when they are in bloom so 

I get some flowers for the house and the cemetery.

The Blue Peter and Lilacs should be in bloom soon 

Early Spring in My Yard

Here are some flowers in April

 Trillium

 Bleeding Heart 

Mel it lived!!  Thanks

 Light Purple Lilac

starting to open

 Mrs. GW Leak

 Double blossom Purple Splendor azalea

 Red azalea 

Japanese Rose

Looks pretty much like last year

I bet I could just put old pictures on here

and nobody would notice!! 
Check out '2016 May' in my blog

New Backyard View

We got new neighbors behind us.

They are relandscaping.  Makes

our backyard look very different

We had a brush pile by that telephone pole

All the blackberry bushes are gone.  :o(

I think they are going to up a fence up

 Trees along the fence are all trimmed which keeps their

branches out of our yard

but doesn't provide much privacy now

They are actually getting the big tree that
keeps dropping branches on our power lines
delimbed.  Yeah!!!!

Our Trip to California

We had a trip to California planned for March

Who knew it would be at the beginning of a 

pandemic?  We were going to watch some

Lacrosse and build a barn door form Amy's

laundry room.  The lacrosse was cancelled

along with school.

 Foggy morning out of Oregon

 You can barely see Mt. McLaughlin above the fog

 Mt. Shasta was beautiful

 The lake was down a little

 Then I didn't think to take pictures again until 

they were halfway thru their project

Amy's laundry room door opened in and

made it a bit difficult to open the dryer

and move around in there

 Cade and Grampa got to work according to

Amy's specifications

 and worked and worked

 Claire and one of their twin cousins, Matteo

 Things to do when your out of school for 

who knows how long

Breakfast of Champions!

yes, that is cake

 and they even got the door finished

Nice Job, guys!!

To bad we didn't go down a week later since they

were in school the week we were there and officially

out of school Tuesday, the morning we left.

Amy sent the last picture after she finished
painting the last coat

Spring is Coming

Spring really is coming

I have proof

 My daphne is blooming

along with the miniature daffodils 

Brooke goes to Maui

Yes, while Brooke and family go to Maui

we get to play grandparents to their pets

 Some time during the evening they cozy 

up on the couch

 and at other times they played havoc with

the things on the coffee table

 the lamps

 each other

 the slippers I put on the heater to dry

 the rug at the door for Charlie

 And then resting again

 Pa is on the computer and there is stuff

that moves in there

Great place to cozy up too!!

Fun Times