Landscaping

This week I did some major work in front of the house. I got a wild hair and decided it was time to get a little curb appeal and add some landscaping in front of the house. Here are the before shots:

So sad, right?  Above is a hydrangea bush that had a very hard winter this year.  There is some growth on the bottom of those woody stems, so I am leaving them in place.  It has tiny blooms down low that are giving me hope. 

So I did some research, talked to a friend, and went to a nursery.  I decided on a bunch of perennials and a few annuals.  I busted up the sod, used 11 bags of top soil (the existing soil was rocky and gross), and we got a yard and a half of mulch delivered.  Putting down the mulch was like putting down sod - instant transformation.  Here are the after pictures:

Two kinds of Hostas in the back and Astilbe in the front.

Pansies in the center bed

Coneflowers, Hollyhocks, Gay Feather, and the Hydrangea

Gayfeather

Coneflower

Hollyhock

Hydrangea

Superbells (Calibrachoa)

Super Pansy (sky blue)

Super Pansy (apple blossom)

Hosta

Astilbe

Our buddy seems to like the new digs.