Our home has been a journey. About a year ago, we were thrilled to change over our front yard for a much needed update, with all things landscaping in the front, with Yellawood + Glen-Grey Bricks. Up until that time, we’d worked so much on the inside and even in the back yard, but we’d done absolutely nothing for all things curb appeal. We’d been overwhelmed and not so sure about what to do with the front. So we tackled it with a trellis, new brick walkway and a little bit of landscaping until we could add to it this past spring. It made such a big difference.
Once upon a time, our home looked like this, in the front.
And here’s how it looks this fall.
But let’s back up a bit. Because it’s come such a long way, we’d be missing a big chunk of the story not to mention our outside makeover with Window World – and that changed everything. But after all those big changes, we were on to the second {third?} addition and there was nothing in the landscaping department. So we were ready to update. It was really the spring of baby plants, since no one was anticipating such a harsh winter. We ended up moving a few things around to make space for some changes this spring.
Here’s what our walkway looked like last fall.
And here we are, now! #LUSH
Let me start by saying that green thumb, I have not. But I agreed with Jamin that I would really babysit this front area through the spring if we added more plants, and the project would be mine to tackle since he handles the entire yard regularly. I waited really patiently for things to grow, while carefully watering through the hot summer. I am so proud of my little front yard garden! Imperfections, and all.
I only lost my dahlia’s {besides a few clematis, so the theme is fussy flowers} but I heard those are fickle anyway. The more I do this, the more I’m learning that a lot of gardening is trial and error. So I’m thrilled to have so many beautiful little plants that are growing steadily under my care. AKA again, they’re not dead yet.
We’ve already made such great progress. But today, I’m sharing our fall porch and garden. I really babysat these little plants through the hot summer, and I’m still nursing them all the way to fall when things will go dormant again.
It feels really good to have kept things alive for so long, and they’re not only alive, but thriving. Who even am I?
From the ground covering to the clematis to the hydrangeas and everything in between, it’s so rewarding to see our little vision already start to come to life. It has a little bit of that English garden vibe I was really going for, and I just adore how charming everything is, already.
All the shades of color are oh so pretty against this black mulch. The plants will bloom at different times, and I’m loving the hues it’s currently giving off for fall.
So our yard kind of has a mullet all over again. Whereas before it was business in the front party in the back, it’s now fall in the front…
Summer {forever} in the back. At least we’re stretching it out as long as humanly possible.
I’m all over the place with my seasons right now. And that’s fine by me.
I’m still playing with the soil and all things hydrangea colors, but I love the way they’ve turned from a light blue in the summer to a darker purple for fall.
And these plants are supposed to be peonies, but their blooms are now looking like other things… I guess we’ll see what they do. Again, with the not-so-green-thumb part. They are flourishing though!
When we moved the soil around last fall, we apparently really woke up these purple shamrocks {or Oxalis Triangularis}. The way the yard was laid out before our changes, it had been choked out by all the monkey grass. Almost as if the next owners didn’t allow them to grow because of what a previous owner had done. I let them go wild this spring, and adore the way they are, sprinkled in between all our plants. I’m just letting them do their thing, and have even redistributed a few to the upper part of the yard so that it feels more balanced. It’s fun to play around and see what they do, slowly but surely. It’s a happy accident that I’m here for.
All things clematis: A lot of it FINALLY took off after being such a downer this spring. I was disappointed by how fast it actually didn’t grow even though all my reading told me they’d be tried and true. I even contemplated replacing it with jasmine after losing a few. These are such a showstopper now that they’ve started to take off, I am willing to wait and see what they’ll do. I do think that this one has gotten wilt, and I’ll have to cut this one back again. The jury is still out on clematis, but when it blooms, it is so gorgeous.
I initially wanted moss in between each of our brick pavers when we laid them last fall. So imagine how thrilled I am to have moss growing naturally in between each one. Maybe that’s a gardening faux pas but I say if it works for me… it looks timeless with these Glen-Gery bricks. Moss makes me happy, so I may be adding more seeds in the spring.
This is a glimpse at our happy little fall porch. In between the existing perennial flowers, I added some Marigolds, which felt seasonally appropriate. We love the little pops of color they offer in between! Again, the peonies are still growing, and we can’t wait to see what they do next spring. Slowly but surely, but it’s crazy to think these started from little bulbs just a few months ago.
I am pretty smitten with the Clematis, even if it does make me mad. It’s so satisfying!
We cozied up everything on the front, because might as well. You’d never know there was a perpetual pool party in the back.
I just adore the happy little blooms on these guys. Who knew there were so many just trying to make an appearance.
Our yard has truly come such a long way. Is it too early for me to call myself a gardener? I’ll probably jinx myself. But I do adore how it’s all beginning to come together in some really beautiful, nuanced ways. I only hope to continue to care for it each year, and add more as we go along!
We are still loving our window boxes on the front of the house. I only have to water them once a week, and the perennials {lavender} we added there have held up beautifully. They add so much to the overall look!
I just keep thinking if I’m this happy with it now, how will I feel in a few years? I’m clearly amazed that I cared for something and it grew and I didn’t kill it. {Yet.}
Fall truly is a second spring. So please excuse the influx of photos. I think it is truly rewarding to have worked so hard on something and really see some awesome results.
I just stumbled upon this shot I took once upon a time. We must have just finished the main and upper levels when we snapped this one. My youngest was so small! He’s now taller than me.
As well as some happy little fall additions. The funny part is, it will look totally different in the spring. I guess I will pivot and try new things from there.
Our little house has come quite a long way.
What are some of your favorite additions to a north facing yard? We would love to hear.
Thanks for stopping by for our little front yard garden + porch tour today! Have an inspired day!
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