May 22, 2011

Frontyard, backyard.

In front, we've got a "fence" of alliums where the hedge used to be. Photo — enlarged — by me:

DSC01478

In back, after 25 years of my back-to-nature approach, it's been a lot of work getting to blank-slate level, and Meade has drawn a semi-circle on the slate. Meade took this picture too. (Enlarge.)

P1080946

25 comments:

Skippy said...

I'd marry that man, too.

edutcher said...

In other words, Meade imposed some order into Ann's chaos.

This is what Conservatives do.

PS A woman appreciates a little order in her chaos about 2 or 3 times a week.

DaveW said...

I like both the allium fence and the semi-circle in back. I'd have lined that bed in back with something though. I bricked-in our beds, but that was a lot of work and I had the builder leave me a pallet of brick from building the house.

Your landscape looks very nice done that way.

Ann Althouse said...

"I'd have lined that bed in back with something though."

You mean with something other than plants. Meade is putting in coral bells and geraniums right now. There are hundreds of plants going into that exposed soil zone. Then in the next area (which looks like all oak leaves right now), there's a wilder set of plants -- ferns, redbuds, etc.

As for putting in some kind of bricks or black plastic strip... I'll let Meade make his own statement about that, but I think he's strongly opposed.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Is that a ball I see on your lawn?

Freeman Hunt said...

Beautiful. I can't wait to see more pictures as the landscape progresses.

ricpic said...

All dem allium tall and proud,
Big wind come and blow dem down,
Drive duh car back to duh store,
Buy phlox grow low to duh ground.

David said...

Althouse is still having an affair with her gardener.

Does the new Law School dean know this?

David said...

"Buy phlox grow low to duh ground."

Duh phlox get duh crud in duh cheesehead climate. All white and moldy--like Republicans.

Ann Althouse said...

Here, you can see what the semi-circle looked like last October.

This is what the front-yard lawn was like last August.

Here, you can see the front yard, last September, with the lawn just getting started, and, in the foreground, where you see the allium today, ornamental grasses. Right now, those ornamental grasses are getting started at the base of the allium, and they will be taking over soon. There's also irises for a second "fence" of flowers. And a whole crop of garlic.

Here's what the front looked like in April 2010, when Meade was imposing rectangles. That green lawn isn't the permanent lawn, as you can tell from the August pictures.

edutcher said...

David said...

Althouse is still having an affair with her gardener.

Someone tell DH Lawrence.

chickelit said...

It looks fabula rasa so far.

wv = "socked"
Sock it to me. You bet your sweet bippy!

Phil 314 said...

Allium, cousin to this

Phil 314 said...

Allium, cousin to this

MadisonMan said...

I hope the alliums (allia?) make it through the thunderstorms that might roll through later today.

Do they blow over easily?

Ron said...

sniff...Silvio has no tag? Years of faithful vortex-hauling...all for naught!

Maybe Silvio needs his own blog!

Ann Althouse said...

@Ron tag added

Ann Althouse said...

MadisonMan said... "I hope the alliums (allia?) make it through the thunderstorms that might roll through later today. Do they blow over easily?"

The stalks are firm.

rhhardin said...

I go with wild but with a sharp transition to lawn.

Ron said...

Ha Ha! Thanks, AA! German Auto Manufacturers everywhere are appreciative! :)

No new thoughts on new wheels yet?

Titus said...

Lovely. Living the cities all these years I never noticed yards because I don't see them.

Being in Wisconsin I have seen some lovely yards.

But you also see yards with dandelions on them.

Chip Ahoy said...

Needs more flamingos and garden gnomes.

No srsly tho, in a dream last night I was running through an allium patch and then I stopped and realized, "holy shit, these are leeks!" Somebody sure did like leeks because there were a lot of them. Then I felt bad for stomping up a cultivated patch. And then, "Oh no, now my boots are all muddy. I had just better keep right on running so it all flicks off and then stomp through some water." The end.

HT said...

Can we see what the hedges looked like?

D&D said...

Wonderful garden. Thought Meade might find this interesting...if he hasn't seen it already.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703421204576327252638228590.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_5

DaveW said...

I'm surprised he's opposed to lining the beds. On the other hand, maybe not, since I know nothing about the grass that grows up there. Down here we have sod grass (St Augustine) and it will spread into unprotected beds. It's a pain as you have to go pull it out all the time. You guys probably don't have that issue.

We're suffering from the worst drought ever for this area. I'm watering right now, trying to keep the most cherished stuff alive, my irises, lilies, agapanthas, split leaf philodendrons, and some annuals I planted a month ago (begonias).

Anyway, your place looks great. It's a real pleasure to have nice planting that looks good, or we love it anyway. Hope you guys enjoy it.