We are renters, therefore we do not want to spend a lot of money on plants for a place that we will eventually be leaving behind. I am lucky to have friends and family who have green thumbs and were more than happy to share cuttings, clippings and pieces of plants from their own yards to get me started.
This is pretty much what the yard looked like when we moved in about 5 years ago.
Here are some midway photo's
Finally getting somewhere with this project!
Although we're really never finished, this is what we ended up with. Of course sometimes we lose a plant here and there and it has to be replaced, or I see one I just can't live without and bring it home to add in. Sometimes I just feel like rearranging things a little, so I do.
We spend a lot of time on our little porch. Our neighbor came over the other day and said she couldn't believe how it felt like you were in your own little oasis while sitting in one of our rockers enjoying the afternoon.
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Comments: 67
I know that we were renters for many years also and I can tell you that when you make positive improvements to a home that make the landlord smile....always a good thing.
It is your home too in some way so as long as you make it pretty and nice....always good.
You did a very nice job with your improvement
Stacey, I like container gardens as well, but I have a couple of issues with them. A lot of the ones I've tried to keep in containers outside, died over the winter because the pots don't keep the plants roots as warm as being in the soil in the ground does I guess. Also, I have to water them every single day here in the summer because they dry up so quickly. That becomes a problem because we are usually under water restrictions.
The place looks really nice.
How many green thumbs do you have anyway???? LOL!!!
Hi Debbie! Thanks, and yes, its a "dancing" flat metal frog on a stick! LOL, a friend of mine at work gave it to me a few years back.
Lynn, thanks so much. It is a great feeling of satisfaction once everything is up and blooming! Our veggie garden is starting to take off as well! We already have small green tomatoes and jalapeños!
I totally love the before midway and after photos. Absolutely gorgeous.
Here anything you add to a rental property legally becomes the property of the landlord when you leave, so if they want to fight you they can! We've added ceiling fans and painted and John has put in some new plumbing fixures. We redid the wallls in the bathtub plus a few other odds and ends. BUT, our rent is less than 1/2 of what a house of this size in this neighborhood goes for and they haven't raised it in 5 years (knock on wood).
Thank you jessie, nice to see you!
mike, not for a couple of weeks! lol, they're not ready just yet!
Thank you Dan, and yes, I was waiting for a comment from you!
Deb, that's probably what will happen to us. We have a month to month lease, they are only required to give you 30 days notice. Since the property in our area is some of the most desirable in this city it will probably happen eventually. :-(
Thanks so much Gwen!
Too Beautiful!
BTW - I didn't see any of your painted bricks.. What's up with that?
Thank you Michelle! That's great about your renters and its great that you notice!
I don't remember what those are called Shel, they were given to me, Debbie H. knows because she sent me some more that I planted in my other flower bed.
Featured Jennifer? This one? I had no clue, Thanks for telling me, how cool is that!?
Thanks Shannon! I hope it is still featured, I have to go and see myself on the front page! :-)
Serina, thanks, I'm one of those "trial and error" type of gardeners. I kill a lot of things before I hit on the right plants for the soil and the lighting that I have. Its hard here because our dirt isn't really dirt, it is all red clay!
LOL, you can buy me a house across the street from you if you like DS. ;-) And our neighbors really don't care anything about how the yard looks, you can tell from looking at theirs!
Thanks Sheri, I think we have a ton of work to do this year. We've had severe draught conditions for the past 2 summers and weren't allowed to water much. Therefore, I lost a lot of my flowers. Also something must have eaten all my Hosta's ~ they have all disappeared. I've never had that happen before so I'm clueless.
Thanks Scott.