Backyard Project & Linch Family Visit

We have been focused on our projects (see the list and progress here), trying to get things crossed off our to-do list before school starts. The backyard has been a project in progress for a couple of years now. It has been quite the process with many steps! The pics below document parts of it, but I noticed that it had gotten pretty embarrassing because there aren't many current "before" pics.

Before we get to the pics, here are a few of the steps we've accomplished over the last couple of years:

• Removed a misshapen Maple tree under the Hazel tree.
• Built the rock garden on the left side of the yard.
• Planted all of our plants (only the Hazel tree, the Maple, and the bamboo were here when we moved in).
• Removed bamboo taking over most of the right corner just before Gabriel arrived.
• Purchased and filled wooden boxes to add depth and texture.
• Pruned the Hazel tree to open up the yard and provide more light for the grass.
• Tilled the yard and installed sod for the 2nd time (fingers crossed it lives this time!).

Removing the Bamboo & Cleaning up

Installing the Sod

We have a little more cleanup and shaping to do, but here's the mostly finished backyard!

The Linch family arrived right in the middle of the sod project, so Gaye and Larry pitched in to help get the sod installed. Big thank you to Gaye & Larry for their help!!! It was a long day by the time we were done as Jonathan and I had gotten up early to finish the cleanup, till the yard and amend the soil for the sod. Boy we were sore the next day!