So far, so...busy

So much has happened since the last post! Here's a brief list (posts and pics on each still to come):

• Popcorn ceilings removed
• New baseboards painted (I learned to use a professional paint sprayer!)
• Hardwood floors and baseboards installed
• Wallpaper removed in breakfast area
• Boys' playroom (fka formal dining area) ready for occupation
• Fireplace painted*
• Tankless Water Heater installed
• Painted all rooms except office, master bedroom, and breakfast area**
• Front garden overhaul complete***
• Patio overhang repair underway

For the sake of brevity (and my own sanity) I won't list all the things I HAVEN'T done yet, or haven't even started.  Just know that there's a future post dedicated solely to my passionate and all-consuming hatred of the master bath.

What I AM posting pictures of today is the front yard! I wish we'd had a sunny day for photos, but it's been threatening rain all weekend.

My bluetheme worked out pretty well, I think. I had to modify the rose selection - I just couldn't find enough positive information about the bloom consistency of the Reine des Violettes, so I went the tried and true Valentine rose.

Hopefully the red won't look too red, and will look more red-blue. I surrounded them with blue grasses and purple flowers to pull the color in that direction.

I filled upwards of 40 lawn bags with plant debris from the removal, and had to call upon my dear lawn guy of old to take a chainsaw to the stumps that remained.

The neighbors keep commenting on how much tearing out those giant ugly shrubs down has opened up the front of the house! I agree and I'm thrilled, but it has also exposed the garage wall which literally hasn't seen daylight in at least 10 years. It was completely covered by those gawd-awful stabby holly bushes and was actually growing moss.

 

 It looks even worse in pictures.

I'm completely at a loss for what to do in that little bed by the garage, so it has a little of everything.

The plant list:

• Bismark Palm
• Altas Mountain Palm
• Agave Stricta 'Live Wires'
• Euphorbia Lathyris (aka Gopher Spurge)
• Santa Barbara Dwarf Mexican Sage
• Azure Bush Germander
• Valentine Rose
• Silver Peso Texas Mountain Laurel
• Canna 'Blueberry Sparkler'
• Apostle Iris
• Louisiana Iris 'Black Gamecock'
• Aloe Striata (from my old garden)
• Agave Weberi 'Purple Heart'
• Agave Parryi
• Elymus 'Canyon Prince'

Now I just wait and see what the summer kills....

*Full-disclosure: I've only primed the fireplace, but it already looks 100% better than it did.

**I have actually completely painted the sunroom but I hate the color. Let's just say that Palladium Blue isn't all it's cracked up to be.

***By and large the front planting is done, save some edging replacement and mulching.