What a difference a year makes...

Okay, it's time for the big reveal! I know many of you could have banged out this project in a weekend, but since hubby and I work at a snail's pace, our swingset garden has been a year in the making, or at least a year in the planning!!

(click to enlarge any photos)

But let me tell you, it was worth the wait... It's even better than I had envisioned! Let me show you what a difference a year makes!

Gentlemen, move that Chip!

Summer 2009:


Summer 2009: The girls' old swingset, with so many wonderful memories that I couldn't bear to part with it, was the inspiration for this little garden/sitting area. The swings have been removed, but the sturdy wooden frame was the perfect starting point for this project!


Summer 2010: I just can't believe the difference in the before and after photos! A small deck, some plants, a little bark mulch and voila!


Summer 2009: We planted blue salvia in front of the swingset last year. It was pretty much the first piece of the entire project.


Summer 2010: I think it likes its new home because it came back strong and full this year.


Summer 2009: The grass in this part of the backyard is virtually non-existent...


Summer 2010: The deck and bark mulch took care of the lack of grass in much of this area. Now we're trying to decide whether to put down a ground cover or to reseed the remaining area.


Summer 2009: Another view of the swingset and the steps that lead up to the deck.


Summer 2010: That's better... Much more inviting!


Summer 2009: Last year we planted two climbing hydrangeas, one on each of the back posts of the swingset...


Summer 2010: They are thriving, but they're also s-l-o-w growers!


Summer 2009: We hope that eventually the hydrangeas will climb up the back posts and then travel across the top of the swingset.


Summer 2010: Their foliage is so lush and thick, I think that would be so beautiful!




Summer 2009: View from our patio. We planted this little honeysuckle vine on our homemade obelisk last year.


Summer 2010: The honeysuckle vine has now climbed to the top of the obelisk and the hummingbirds love to split their time between the feeder the the honeysuckle. The swingset deck and the patio both provide wonderful viewing areas!


Summer 2009: Another view of the salvia and honeysuckle vine right after it was planted last year.


Summer 2010: I thought my vintage birdcage planter might look nice placed between the salvia and the honeysuckle. Although this year I got lazy. Instead of real flowers, I just stuck some faux ferns into the cage. I've never used faux anything in the outdoor garden areas before, but I actually think it looks okay (Right, Jill?) (Click here to see my post on making a birdcage planter for your garden).


In addition to the climbing hydgrangeas on the back swingset posts, I planted clematis vines on the two front posts. There are also some pink lilies in front of a little birdbath in the garden. And Ms. Mermaid, who you see sitting on the bottom step, is loving the garden. And she has already made a very special friend! I hope to get a picture of the two of them to share with you sometime soon!

So thank you for letting me share our new garden sitting area with you. And a huge thank you to hubby, who made it all possible!!!

Donna