Front Landscape: Pavers Laid

 The one thing I can say for this old house is that it is in a beautiful setting, so there's not much landscaping to be done. From this view you can just make out the long, narrow, empty flower bed that runs along the front of the house.

You really don't notice this area until you round the corner and head for the front door. In the last post about this project I explained the need for minimal, short planting. And because our front porch is so small I want to extend the sidewalk to give a quasi-terrace impression.

When the weather cooled I got started laying the pavers. They are plain 16 inch pavers from Lowes.

 Because the house sits on the side of a hill, drainage must be considered. The previous owners did a great job in this area and we drain very well. I certainly didn't want to mess that up, so I carefully laid these pavers to direct water away from the house and sidewalk. Using the square helped me keep the checkerboard pattern fairly straight.

There were several loads of dirt and mulch to be hauled off.

Forty-seven pavers later and sidewalk extension is complete.

Right in the center of each uncovered square, I planted daffodils, the anticipation of which will get me through each winter here at Pine Cone Lane. (I know I'll have to suffer through the daffodils' dying foliage stage, but it is a price I am willing to pay!) 

Finally, the uncovered squares were planted over with mondo grass.  As you can see, leaves will be an issue in the fall. When the mondo grass fills in and thickens, I should be able to blow the leaves off with a blower.

My goals for this project were:

     1. low maintenance

               2. minimal, low plantings

        3. sidewalk extension

                                 4. something unusual and unexpected

I think I reached all my goals and I can't wait to show you another picture in the spring with daffodils everywhere!!!

I want to send out a special THANK YOU to the North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners who sent me off to Mississippi with a wonderful gardening gift certificate that I used to fund this project. I hope you guys will walk on this sidewalk some time soon for a visit!!!

Love ya'll,

Shelli

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word,

and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you’ve had.

~Author Unknown