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Saturday, August 11, 2012

August Yard of the Month

in Edgemere Park
This is my neighbor Stan's house and yard. 
I'll be back tomorrow with an inside tour.
The yard of this home was pretty much a blank canvas when Stan and his wife Terry moved in.
This is how the landscape was before they purchased the home.
This was it a couple of years ago.
Stan has done all this by himself.
I love these large urns flanking the porch and filled with sweet potato vines and white mandevilla.
An old dry sink on the porch makes it feel homey.
A glimpse of the side front porch.
A bench on the side porch.
The only thing in this front bed that existed before Stan got his green thumb in action was the crab apple tree.
Such a variety of plantings.
Their backyard is very similar to mine layout wise but they've turned it
into a tropical retreat. Stan added the deck to the back of the house.
I really like the posts he used for the pergola.
This backyard had nothing in it but patches of sad grass when Stan started all this.
A flag stone patio in the center of the backyard provides a cool spot in the shade of the trees.
Various art objects and water features dot the landscape.
A back gate leads to their neighbor's yard behind them. 
Stan painted the other side of this gate orange because he knew his neighbor behind him loves orange.
He knew she'd enjoy looking at an orange gate every day.
Isn't that nice? I wish I lived behind Stan and Terry.
They have quite a few banana trees that they over winter in their basement every year.
Here is the most ingenious part of this yard makeover and so easily copied.
A magnificent gate and fence separates the backyard from the driveway in front of the garage.
Many of us have this driveway layout in the neighborhood.
It's usually a dead space for most of the homes.
But Stan extends the garden with large potted plants along the perimeter of the driveway.
Turning the boring back drive into another patio complete with table and chairs.
Triangle canvas awnings overhead provide shade.
Masses of potted plants provides a pretty backdrop for this make-do patio and hides
the heat and air unit. Yes, I must do this.
This is the view looking from the yard through the gate onto the driveway.
Those large doors are the opening to the garage.
The yard side of the garage sports another deck with a canvas awning overhead.
This area includes a bar for outdoor beverages.
A view from the outdoor bar towards the back gated fence.
I have seen this yard in several stages.
Stan just keeps adding things one project at a time.

I have to say that most of the time I'm super happy that I'm single.
But after seeing how handy Stan is at building and making stuff, I have to say I did 
wish for my own handi-crafty man.
My fantasy is a man outside in his workshop making stuff all the time.

Of course I'd want it all built to my specifications.

Tomorrow I'll have the inside of the home for the latest installment of 
Open House Sunday.

Happy Saturday!

sharing at

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful and they've done a great job with all those shade lovin' plants! I liked the blue table under the pergola, what a lovely spot!

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a gorgeous little house and lovely yard! Some one's got a big ole green thumb I do believe! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

NanaDiana said...

What a gorgeous home and yard. He has done a lot of work there and it is stunning- xo Diana

Stacey said...

Wow! Their yard is beautiful. I love how they packed so much into the space. Can't wait to see the inside. :)

Bev said...

How gorgeous! I too have the "handy man who will do as I wish" fantasy. But mine extends to "and will leave me alone the rest of the time"..lol. Stan rocks! How is he keeping it alive during this horrible heat? Thanks for sharing. Tell Stan that he's the man!

Cheery wave from Bev

http://44thstreetfabric.blogspot.com

Bev said...

How gorgeous! I too have the "handy man who will do as I wish" fantasy. But mine extends to "and will leave me alone the rest of the time"..lol. Stan rocks! How is he keeping it alive during this horrible heat? Thanks for sharing. Tell Stan that he's the man!

Cheery wave from Bev

http://44thstreetfabric.blogspot.com

Brenda Pruitt said...

What a fantastic job he's done of making his home cozy and inviting!
Brenda

Cindi Myers said...

Ditto to what Bev said.
:D

Unknown said...

Isnt it just fabulous what you can do if your husband like gardening! It looks sooo great now!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh that is just a FABULOUS garden. I think I might have to sit outside every evening and look at all the beauty. I don't think being married makes a whole lot of difference. My Hubby could care less about the garden. As long as the yard is mowed. And this heat just kills me. Pretty pretty!

Sonia said...

Oh how beautiful...I can appreciate how much work it is to keep up a garden in our Oklahoma heat...gorgeous home and garden!
Miss Bloomers

Amy Chalmers said...

Stan is super talented and I love his yard! It has a lot of personality without being hectic feeling...love the boston ivy or whatever it is that he trained up the facade of the front of the house...many enchanted spots in his yard. And to paint the gate for aneighbor? Well thats just being super neighborly~I like Stan and I don't even know him!!

Patty said...

Wow! That is some yard...it is wonderful. Can you ask Stan to share more about the triangle canvas awnings, and where you can get those? I can't wait to see the inside! Thanks to Stan and Terry for sharing!

Bliss said...

I need Stan to come care for my plants.

~Bliss~

Unknown said...

Stan is marvelous. He has done a wonderful job with the yard. I specifically like the triangle canvass awnings. Its gives a nice touch to the whole place.
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LIFE IS WHAT said...

Life is what you make of it,the positive things that can be accomplished through sincere work and duty.Don't take life for granted but embrace it and take it one step at a time and enjoy every moment of it even when things seem haywire or at a distance,just continue doing what is right because in the end it has its great rewards.