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Terrific!
Oh I remember it well. Year 2 was when I was still shoving plants in from our previous home. The weeding was just beginning. Then I was expanding things here and there, once I knew where sun and shade were. Then the plant mania began...buy, buy, buy/share share share.
Now I'm at the "gee, let's be sensible and use more shrubs and less finicky things" stage. Only in thought still, not actually DOING IT.
So I see your huge dark shrub near the birdbath and windows! That's a mature specimen of...what? Beautiful! Lots of edging, mulching, weeding and fun in your future too. ENJOY!

Martie

How neat - I see the makings of a beautiful garden and one that can be enjoyed right now. You seem to have a clear idea of design. It will be wonderful to see it develop over the next few years.

Thanks for sharing

Mary

Nice Start Martie! It will fill in quickly. I can't believe how some of the plants in my second year bed are smooshed together already. It's nice to be able to visualize your gardens now. Norma

Martie...it looks terrific! :-) You have done a wonderful job. I'm so excited, just imagining your excitement! :-) Funny! I was thinking the same thing myself...how *exciting* to have so much space to work with! I love everything you've done so far and as everyone says it will fill out so quickly you won't believe it! :-) I'm also getting a real kick out of the fact...I *hope* I'm seeing it right, but are you using magenta (or hot pink) with soft yellows? I think I see it in your container and two of your beds? I love those two colors together! A few years ago I spotted my wine cups weaving and consorting with the soft primrose yellow missourri sundrops in the same area. I fell in love with the combination and am trying to turn that whole little area over to just those two colors. Failed this year because of the darn bunnies....but I'm not giving up! :-)

Anyway, thanks for sharing your lovely gardens and keep us posted as it progresses...please? I'm sure it's sad to leave your old garden behind...but isn't exciting to have a *whole new* garden to develop and create? :-) Sorry for all the smiley faces, but I'm just so happy to share in your happiness! Congratulations!

Ei

Thank you for the kind word and encouragement!! Yes, it is painful and wonderful all at the same time to start over, but wonderful usually wins :-)

The splashes of magenta are wave petunias in containers and in the ground. I didn't know if I wanted so much permanent oomph but must say that I rather like it. Now the search for a perennial that will mimic this most wonderful annual.

The mature speciman near the bird bath is one of 6 plants out of 47 that stayed when we moved in. It is a glorious Japanese Maple that had been sorely neglected and has been brought back to its full glory. What you see in that picture is half the garden area. The other half involves a 4" wide and 32' long path from the driveway (where Ky was when he took the pic) to the front patio. That is essentially untouched plant-wise and now is just 8" of rock and rock dust waiting for pavers.

The garden I'm particularly excited about is the one with the two trellis and large Blaze rose (explanation for pic ID purposes). It will become my herb and rose garden. Right now the pots hold container veggies and the small border in front are this year's Alpine Strawberries.

Yes, I really do have corn growing next the light posts :-)

The great thing about this project is that we know we're staying put. These pics show the major work areas, most of which weren't there when we came. The "three yew garden with dogwood that was almost dead", though close to the patio, needed to be reclaimed and is the one shady area of the yard. THAT will be the focus of concentration next year.

The shrub nursery is one of two. The shrubs in the pic will stay where they are -- Rosa rugosa, quince and Viburnum.

I could go on and on and on. Thanks, again, for "seeing what I see" in terms of future look. The bones are always the hardest for me; the fluff will come :-)

Martie

Great work Martie! Everything looks wonderful. You have it all spaced so well I'm envious of your restraint. I'm of the 'cram it in and see if it lives' type of gardener because I'm out of room in the borders and not out of plants I want to grow. LOL Thanks for sharing.

Deanne

Hi Martie, Your gardens are looking good and really starting to take shape. My favorites are the gardens at the end of the driveway. I like the corn! I envy your open spaces and fresh start. My gardens are in the serious editing and reshuffling phase that happens when you run out of garden but not plants, lol. You're doing a great job and I can't wait to see more pictures as your gardens mature.

Eden

Really GREAT start,Martie !

(And thanks to Sue for making the pics visible.) :-)

Marian

Martie, things are looking very good. You have accomplished alot in 2 years and what a nice large area you have to work with. I started with a large blank area (not even a nice Jap. maple like yours) 8 years ago. I know how overwhelming it can be, but just concentrate on small pieces at a time and before you know it you've accomplished much. Thanks for including us on the journey.

Michelle

OK, I finally got back to take a good look at these...Martie, we've all been at the new garden stage. You have the benefit of not being a new gardener and having some nice hardscapes to start. You already know what plants you like and what has done well for you in the past. I agree with Michelle, take one area at a time and concentrate on that so you don't get overwhelmed. It all looks to be shaping up nicely. You'll be amazed when you look back and compare a couple of years from now.

Sue