Weekend Work
This last weekend was beautiful and I was determined to get our yard in order. Which is no easy feat, but the sooner this huge job is completed the sooner we can enjoy my most favorite season of the year…summer!
Remember Isaac’s welcome home from college gift? He’ll be happy to know that he doesn’t have to touch this chore-his least favorite thing to do ever. Probably besides writing papers and studying for exams which he was doing instead.
I made a big old list, and recruited helpers. (Recruited is a nice word but it was more like “we are doing yard work all weekend and everyone has to help” …groaning, whining, complaining, sounds emitting like there are legs getting chopped off with anesthetic…and that’s just Jeff :).
Here’s my list:
If Janey wasn’t sleeping (monitor blasting in window), one of the jobs up for bid was to push her up and down the driveway in the stroller. It was either that or spread mulch.
You’d be stupid not to pick sweet Janey-watching for heaven’s sake.
This year I cut the beds deeper and planted hot pink impatiens all along the front of the house. I threw those babies in faster than you can say “these will all get trampled with some sort of ball why am I setting myself up for failure.” I am diligent about watering this spring/summer all the work should be worth it…till the poor things get trampled with a ball.
My favorite tree…which is so old, and loses more and more branches every year, but I can’t bear to part with her presence. If only she can hang on just a little longer.
She’s been so kind to us over the years…her kindness could have possible contributed to her branch-sparsity.
So last fall I took down the ivy climbing up the doorway. I don’t know why I did that, it just felt good to rip it down and clean things up. But then I saw this photo from last year and the ivy looks so pretty.
So ivy or no ivy this year?
What do you think?
No ivy…
Ivy….
I’m thinking ivy…and ivy is thinking ivy, because I’ve already noticed it creeping up the brick wall.
your yard looks great and I love the ivy.
Love all you have done. And I like the ivy too.
Ivy is special. Anyone can have "no ivy". 🙂
I vote for ivy!
Love the trail of pink flowers x
I definitely vote ivy. We have a tree similar to yours in our front yard. It's the perfect climbing tree. Now wishing I had a little swing under it.
Sorry, no ivy over here. Have had it before and love the clean look without it, but it takes work! Lovely front of your home, it looks very classic. This is the best exercise in the world in my opinion, gardening!!
I LOVE IVY! My husband and I have a dispute on this, and he is constantly pulling it down. I've heard it's not good for your house, but it is beautiful!
I say a little ivy is a good thing!
By the way, I'm planting English Ivy throughout my front beds as a ground cover and I don't even care if it climbs up my house!
I vote for Ivy. The poem from yesterday was so perfect as my oldest turns 20 today. Where did those years go? Happy spring.
BTW, what kind of tree is that?
Good luck with your impatiens. They are scarce this year due to the downy mildew disease that spread last year. As for the ivy, I like it both ways!
Looking again, are those impatiens? They look like petunias, but my screen is small…
Did you complete your whole list in one weekend??? WOW that would be amazing if you did!! impressive!! I love the impatiens…very pretty!! They won't get too trampled… I love big ole trees!! Lovely yard!
Ivy!!! And sure hope the front door got rescreened as you listed it twice!! Love the ball trampling comment..for years I have not planted annuals for that reason – dogs and kids trampling – but this year I want to plant and mulch
We have ivy and I love yours with it!
Love it all- beautiful! (And your family is incredibly industrious to tackle this all in one weekend! Wow! Or maybe another benefit to a larger family? Many hands make light work.:-) )
I love the ivy, by the way.
I love ivy. However, it's so bad for your house to have it growing into the brick work. What you will end up dealing with in repairs is not worth it.
Love your yard. It's so pretty.
Lovely house (and even lovelier kiddies). I vote no ivy–as other posters have mentioned, it's really hard on brick work, and paying to get that fixed is not fun!
I need to make a list like that. Your house is so charming…I want a house like that! Our house is new and it's hard to try to add in charm like that. What kind of tree is that with all the blossoms? Another thing I wish we had that we don't get with a new construction…trees! We have planted 8 on our property but they are all babies. 🙂
Your yard is beautiful. I vote for ivy-we have a ton too!! We too have been trying to finish up the yard and spring clean before Katie comes home next week. I want to enjoy summer. It goes by way too fast!!
No ivy!! It will destroy the mortar between your bricks….$$$
No ivy! It will reap havoc on the bricks and cost you a bundle!! Trust me on this one. (and once it starts creeping into your house – ugh…)$$$$$!!!
I agree with a few of the comments – No Ivy! I like the clean look but mostly like they said it's hard on your brick and will cost you money!
No ivy! Brings bugs!!
Ivy!
I'm jealous because all I can do is hold, hold, hold while teeth crank us out.
Your choice on the ivy, obviously, but I'm always worried it'll damage the mortar etc
I love your list. I need to make everyone work with me more (I'm getting better at that) things get done so much faster and you might even have a little bit of fun working together.
Definitely love the ivy!!! Wish I had some around!! And–is this list something I can look forward to when my boys are a bit older?? Crossing my fingers!!
Definitely love the ivy!!! Wish I had some around!! And–is this list something I can look forward to when my boys are a bit older?? Crossing my fingers!!
No ivy … It "creeps" me out (haha) … But your house will be beautiful either way!
I'm thinking no ivy but a cute wreath on the door instead. But that could just be me. I love a nice wreath. Love the impatients and the tree! It's beautiful right now.
Ivy!!!! LOVE!
Love the show Call the Midwife. My first son was born in England in an old victorian house converted to a maternity hospital just 8 beds & set in its own grounds, there were only midwives delivering the babies & it was very personal & a lovely experience. My midwife was assisted by a trainee who was only 16 years old & fresh out of school. (I'm going back 40 years now). The midwives in the u.k. still perform thousands of births at home & have since traded in their bikes for minis.
No ivy. It will get under the eaves & pull the bricks off the wall. I spent last summer pulling it out of my garden & this year all kinds of lovely flowers are appearing now they can finally see some daylight. Enjoy your summer & Janey is an adorable little poppet.
Barbara
ivy