My yard and garden rooms have continued to change and evolve over the past 4 years. I would love to see other's changes here on this thread, too! I know many of you have also added more to your yard!

My white wooden arbor needs repainting and the garden areas look like a jungle now. I am past the neat and quaint garden areas of 4 years ago. This year I had record numbers of butterflies. And this Winter I currently have 3 adult male Ruby-throated hummingbirds that have settled in to over-winter in different areas of my yard. As well as Painted Buntings, Palm Warblers, Cardinals, Bluejays, Doves, Yellow Rumped Warblers, and more still arriving.... My garden areas/rooms have grown and attracted more and more wildlife. It's all good!!!!

This is the front yard. I had to have the septic drain field replaced this year. In doing so, my favorite tree had to be removed. It made me sick ! So afterwards I took advantage of the barren area to extend the front garden bed further out into the front yard. I have since added a daylily border and I have moved the small resin waterfall to the front bed recently. This is how that front bed looked this year. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted there. Mission accomplished!

Backyard....

I replaced the wooden 3-tiered bed frame with concrete cinder blocks and tops. Painted them blue to match the Plumbago Shrubs blooms. I needed a "cool" color as there was too many "hot" colors in that area. I also painted all the stepping stones blue to match as well. This room is a favorite spot for all the butterflies and hummingbirds and other wild birds! It is also my favorite room.

This statue came from my deceased neighbor's estate sale. She loved that garden room area, so I decided to put the statue at the top of the 3-tiered bed in her memory. She would be very happy to know it is there! I got it for an amazing price. ($40) I was not into Greek statuary, but this piece seems to fit that area beautifully.

Another piece I got from the neighbor's estate sale was one of her favorites. This is a birdbath fountain. She loved my little resin waterfall, so she bought this concrete piece for her pool deck area. It is in the same garden room as the Goddess statue. I love both pieces! A lovely reminder of my dear neighbor, Helen!

My son scored two large matching concrete pots for me by a client who wanted to get rid of them. I cleaned them up with a wire brush and painted them blue to match the 3-tiered bed. I have them placed inside the outdoor patio area next to the wooden arbor entrance. The Firecracker plant was blooming like crazy!

The climbing roses I have growing up the wooden arbor have gotten huge. Hard to believe they are growing in two containers.

Looks great, Becky.

I finally figured out what to grow in my tipsy pots. Succulents!!!!

Thanks, Debra!

Added two benches along the long garden bed areas along the back fence.

I love Canna, Jacob Cline Monarda, and Iris fulva. I don't like how it spreads though, so decided to plant them in large tubs and sink the tubs into the ground to contain them! There is a Cuphea (David Verity) growing behind them. All for the hummers and butterflies!

This is how it looked a month later ....

I like the bench.

Smart idea to use those big containers. Had a few scraggly canna growing alongside the garage here when I bought the house. Moved them and discovered I only like them in dwarf form. Gave those away and am slowly adding the short ones.

The west side of the backyard along the fence. Various salvia plants, Brug, Powder Puff bush, etc. ... all for the nectar loving wildlife!

Debra - They spread like crazy in my yard. So had to do something to keep them in-bounds. I like the taller ones that are more of the native species because the hummers like the canna that produce nectar. I am a slave to the wildlife in my yard!

A better view of the one room where the 3-tiered bed is. This was taken right after I replaced the wooden frame with the cinder block and painted everything. That area has gotten a bit overgrown since, but I love it! I was amazed at all the butterflies that congregated in that area this year!



This is the Plumbago shrub(s) that I painted the concrete to match!

This is the area against the exterior wall of my house in the same garden room! It is a jungle .... literally! The waterfall pond has been moved and the waterfall birdbath has been put in it's place. But this is how that area looked this summer.

oooooo, i LIKE the blue cinderblock and stepping stones!!!

Debra - I debated long and hard before I chose the paint. I really do like, too! It contrasts with all the blooms in that area!

Cassia tree in bloom on the other side of the picket fence patio area. This is the host plant for several Sulphur Butterfly species! It also attracts birds that like to perch inside those trees!

An online friend told me how to make a very cheap, but popular bird bath. The birds love this bath! It's perfect for perching. It is made using a tomato cage that is cut down in size with wire cutters (though I had HD cut them for me), a plastic pot saucer, and bricks in the middle of the bath for the birds to sit on when bathing or drinking from this birdbath. I have two of them in my yard.

Great idea. Submit that through the Ideas forum?

Yes, that idea should be submitted!