Monday, December 31, 2012

All Good Things Come To Those That Wait

One of the best features of our home is the view.  It was the "AH HA" moment that sold me on the house...the great view of the fairway from the inside.  But, I wanted it to look good from the outside also.


The view from the golf course is not so nice.  As A REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA, I am on the golf course a lot.


I started planning a backyard renovation.  I broke it down into manageable pieces.  First a patio, then landscaping, then curbing and ultimately furniture.  I wanted the landscaping to be low-maintenance and winter hardy...all within a reasonable budget.I figured a month from start to finish.  WRONG.  Think more like five months!
JULY 2012 First the patio... 




 
AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER 2012
 
I spent the next couple months trying to find a landscaper.  One was too high, another was outrageous, and a third admitted he didn't have any time.  When I found the right landscaper, he couldn't start until November.  By this time, I had learned patience.
 
NOVEMBER 2012
 
Russ Gano, owner of Richloam Growers, showed up when he said he would, listened to what I wanted, created a detailed drawing, quoted a very reasonable price and SHOWED UP to do the work on the day he said he would.  I couldn't be happier with the results. 
 
First, Russ took out the sod.
 
 
 Then layout the plants.
 
 
Then bring in the show piece. 
 
 
 
Freshen up with mulch and it is beautiful. 
 
 
The last step was the curbing to match the existing landscaping.  I called Jim Revell from Kwik Kerb.  Jim was another great choice, very professional and a job well done.  Kwik Kerb is a continous curbing system.  It was a lot more work than I thought it would be...digging out the grass, mixing the concrete, hauling it in a wheelbarrow from the street to the back yard, shoveling it in the machine, moving the machine around the curves, finishing the surface. 
 
 
 
Now the big reveal.  P.S.  Furniture will be added later.