Thanks to Jaytee for my garden!

When I first moved into my condo (April 2008), my yard was old grass with wood chips around the edge (first photo). My first thought was that I'd do the whole thing in stepping stones and mosses/ground covers in between. Right. The cats tore the ground cover starts up and the dog refused to pee on ground cover instead of on a nice green lawn. So...I put in a lawn which she then killed by peeing all over it. *Sigh* At this point there were rocks, flower pots, and large pieces of screen and wire over all the planting beds to keep the cats out. Let me tell you, the whole thing was some pathetic sight.

I posted photos of my "garden" on the Painting Friends website and Jaytee, a wonderful artist/landscape designer in England said she would love to get her hands on my garden! So in March/April 2009 we started a thread with me posting dimensions, patio, etc., and then Jaytee posting a garden design idea. It was refined and she made lots of suggestions for plants in a shady garden, etc. I couldn't wait--dove right in and tore out my lawn and started planting.

The photos after the first one are how it looks now. It's become my little oasis in life. With planting beds where I'd have never thought to put them, wonderful redwood planter boxes made by my son-in-law, and even a pee-patch of lawn for the dog! The storage area is separated from the patio by one of the planter boxes and I grow vegetables in the other planter box and in the white tub (they get more sun on the patio).