FRONT - BEFORE
(Ignore, if you can, the leaf pile) It was the g-d holly bushes. They were pretty for about 2 weeks out of every year, when the berries came out all pretty and bright red. The rest of the year I spent trying to trim them into some kind of symmetric submission, or picking the pointy-ass leaves out of my socks and/or feet.
FRONT - AFTER
Ta-DA! What isn't captured in this picture, is the repainted the shutters, porch swing and the new pretty front door with a oval shaped window in it. Also, no little task was replacing all the concrete edging around the now- empty beds. Of note, I didn't do this very hard work, I paid someone fantastic to do it for me. As my across-the-street-neighbor said to me as we watched Mr. fantastic drag dismembered holly bush pieces to the street "It sure is nice to watch someone else work". Heh.
BACK - BEFORE
This was my ugly deck. It was teeny and while there was room for a grill, a grill and say, a table and chairs was just too much. So....
BACK - AFTER
TA-DA! It still needs to be stained, but ugly deck is gone! I am in lurve with this new deck. I am often wasting time searching for the patio furniture that will soon live here. My boss and co-workers have already started spouting suggestions for low-bush-shrub-flower-things to plant around the edge of the curvy part there, and I am open to suggestions, remember, low-maintenance, hardy, and not holly bushes.
Now, if North Carolina will just get warm enough to enjoy the outside of my house I'll be all set.
You're invited by the way, if you happen to find yourself out this way.
