Operation: Taming the Back- Part 1

We’re breaking new ground today, guys… for the first time EVER (I think), you’ll get two posts delivered to your door step- er, email- in one day! That’s right, we’ve got a twofer happening over here. This week was a busy one, so I apologize for the lack ‘o posts. Forgive me? Can I make it up to you with TWO in one day?? Awesome, let’s get to work then.

Since last season, our backyard has been a dump. We had to pile things in storage and under trees for the winter and even though we haven’t been spending time out there, things have started to accumulate. I have no idea how, but when I went out to clean and get things in order the other day, there was so much JUNK! So Operation: Taming the Back is definitely in order. Here’s how things sat for most of winter:

Fast forward to the other week when I did some work on the garden. The garden definitely shaped up and we did manage to drag all of the furniture out of storage. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sit like this for weeks…

Doesn’t look too bad, huh? Unfortunately, what you can’t see in that picture are the piles. Oh, the piles. Yep, it has been a mess back there. And since we’re having people over this weekend (yikes! clean everything!), I figured it was high time to get this space in full working order. And it’s spring for crying out loud… spring means it’s almost time for picnics and bonfires outside! Which we can’t do if there are mountains of junk everywhere.

My first order of business was to tackle the pile behind the tree…

Furniture that didn’t fit in storage, odds and ends, firewood, the grill, more odds and ends. First, I pulled everything out and did some reconstructive work on our wood pile.

Oh, and guess what I found while sorting through all of that junk?

There is a mama robin and her nest of eggs! I know this because 1. You can see her sitting on top of them most of the time and 2. She scared the daylights out of me one day when she spontaneously flew off her perch. I haven’t been brave enough try and get a glimpse of the eggs inside, but I know they’re there because I found this on the ground during my organizing… Can you see it? Right above the corner of the gray chair…

How about a closer shot…

Poor thing must have fallen out. 🙁 But it was really beautiful!

Ok, back on track here- this post is getting ramble-y.

After I cleared the pile out from under the tree, it was time to tackle the Air Conditioner corner… I call it the Scary Spider Corner. Because there are always spiders back there. If you didn’t catch that from the name. 🙂 Here’s what it looked like before I hit it with a little Operation Take Back:

Meeeesssssyyyy. First up, I pulled everything out. And yes, I used the end of a broomstick to hook and drag each item so I didn’t have to stick my arms in the Scary Spider Corner. Once it was all out, I cleared out some of the pachysandra that was slowly taking over the place. The picture below is what it looked like after it was cleaned up a bit, but before, the pachysandra had grown all the way to where that big brown square stone starts. After adding a few more pavers, we now have some more storage space. Or stepping stones to get back in there. If you’re not afraid of spiders, that is. I’m thinking of using that final trellis (from a project last year) to finish the AC “room”. However, instead of my original idea of installing it as an un-movable wall, I think I might go for another door that could swing open like this one. One more Clematis up against the wall, by the corner of the clematis might just do the trick for to hide the chaos back there. We’ll see how far we get with this pipe dream.

And as for the furniture, I pulled everything out and arranged it on the patio so that if it rained, it would all get a good washing. The layer of pollen that has accumulated this past week is unbelievable! So this is our half way point- a few cleared out corners and some furniture that is ready for cleaning and real arranging.

It might not feel like much now, but trust me- throwing away piles of junk we don’t need and cleaning out those corners felt like the biggest win. The fun part comes later this afternoon… the finished product! Here’s what’s on my “to-do” list for today:

The patio needs weeding, our poor bar cart (that has to be stored outside because we have no room for it inside) needs a good scrubbing, and those chairs need to be rid of all of that pollen, bird poop, and sap. Oh, and I’m going to attempt to arrange, style, shoot, and post it all for you later today. Wish me luck. This one might be a late-night post, so stay tuned. 🙂

PS. I forgot to tell you! Although you got a glimpse of it a few photos up… remember that Clematis that was dead, but then started sprouting fresh shoots a few weeks ago?? Here it was then:

And NOW!

My dream of a living wall is happening!!!! I do a little moonwalk a la Michael Jackson every time I see it.

I’ll leave you with that visual for today. 🙂