Our yard was beautiful before we started our garden. It was simple. I started noticing that we weren’t going outside much. We would go outside to play a game or two, but even that happened less and less.
Our yard before we started a garden
I started a small vegetable garden and realized that we were going outside all the time to look at the garden. It wasn’t long before we turned the small vegetable garden into a large garden…and every year we make it larger. We go outside every single day now. Sometimes we spend the entire day outside enjoying our yard.
Our Yard Now
Fenced-In Toddler Play Area
Last summer we fenced in a large area with chain-link for our toddler. We wanted her to be able to play outside while we worked in the garden. We are able to keep an eye on her and know she is safe, yet we are still be able to pull weeds. Now that she is a little older, she is helping us pull weeds.
Our Barbeque Pit
Last summer I also made a barbeque pit. I envisioned the family sitting around it while I cooked our dinner over the fire. My husband was irritated that I sacrificed one of our garden beds for the barbeque pit when I made it. He got over it when he realized how much we used it over the past winter. We cooked a ton of marshmallows, hot dogs, and beans over the fire while we told stories. The kids love it.
Cooking over the barbeque pit
I do a lot of gardening in containers. The black pots in the picture below are my favorite. They are big but they don’t get too heavy. They are made of plastic which is light and retains moisture. I can move them around easier than heavy ceramic pots and the black color keeps the soil warmer in the winter. However, I’ve decided that I don’t like the look of the black plastic and I am currently working on a new look. I’m going to paint them a natural green to blend in better with the surroundings and not stand out so much. I tend to move them around a lot and “re-decorate”.
Containers with Lettuce in Our Garden
Loring Working in Our Garden
Our Garden Beds
Our garden has transformed over the course of many years. It is always changing and we are always learning.
Our Outdoor Chess Board
We love to play chess here. I had Grayson help me build the chess board with concrete pavers and paint. We collected the chess pieces from various discount stores. I taught Grayson how to play chess and now I rarely win a game against him.
Our Ship Playground
This ship playground has brought my children many, many hours of sheer joy. We added solar lights all over it that look like antique lanterns. It looks like a Disney World pirate ship at night. We’ve got solar lights in the garden beds that flicker to look like candles. The effect is very pleasing. There are several other assorted solar lights to up-light some small trees and light up the walkways.
Everybody Loves the Outdoor Couches
We find it difficult to leave our yard now. We would rather stay home than go anywhere else. Our perfect weekend is when we don’t have to go anywhere and we can just go outside to play in our yard with our animals and enjoy our garden.
Our Ever Changing Garden
Come grow with us!
Pick Me Yard 