The day can not come fast enough each Spring for planting day! There are two parts to planting for the Summer months. The first part consists of pot design, while the second part is a bit more extensive and involves planting the beds, replacing shrubs that didn't make it through the winter, and basic updating of the yard design. The latter part has been accomplished and I couldn't wait to say goodbye to those drab brown and empty flower beds.

Take a look at these precious flowers that come up each Spring. They are like wild flowers and spill over into the walkway and across to the other side... so charming!

Here are some before and after photos of the flower beds and shrub replacements.

In this area, we had yews that didn't do very well... it seemed we were replacing a few each year. They didn't look good and we decided to switch them all out for a heartier shrub that can take the snow piled on top all winter. I also wanted to add a pop of color... I love this lime green!

BEFORE

AFTER

We had red burning bushes planted along the fence and for two years the bunnies literally ate them to the ground. We never saw the gorgeous red leaves in the Fall - we never saw any leaves at all! Just sticks sticking out of the ground. We tried the "rabbit spray" that is reported to smell so horrible, the bunnies become disinterested. I can confirm that the smell is in fact horrible, and after fumigating the bushes (sticks) and the surrounding area, we are lucky our neighbors still speak to us. P-U! Guess who didn't seem to notice the smell? The bunnies. They didn't miss a meal! We finally decided to pull up the red burning bush sticks and plant something different... Bridal wreath - so charming!

BEFORE