Love that flower garden - not too flowery if that makes sense

They are all perennials too. That was the realtors photo from last year, this year the plants are coming up nicely and it will look just as lovely - with little effort. I trimmed back the bushes and did some weeding, that's it. So you see the benefits of perennials.

The other picture is from the top of the back yard. You can just see the house, it's not that shed. So I have put some raised beds up there for the veggies.

I can't make any suggestions on flowers as it will all be different out your way. We are zone 5a here, so have a fair choice of plants.

You really seem to have quite the place there; ornamental gardens, river, top taste (as vulgar people used to say out our way).

It's quite lovely thank you. I am so pleased to be here, it's like being on holiday everyday. It's the house I always wanted to have but never dreamed we would be able to afford it. Here in rural Ontario it's a cheap house, small even by British standards let alone Canadian. Shock horror, we have no basement, but we manage nobly. The gardens are a lot of work even with perennials in, you would know about work of course. Those damn dandelions are taking over the world bit by bit.

I was so miserable in that other house, living in that miserable city. So much depends on chosing the right house.

It's a delight to hear someone so happy. Everything here is just a touch ambivalent.

Here? as in dbd acres? That would be too much work for me. This 0.41 of an acre with no animals is enough to look after. You and YAW are to be admired.

Thank you for the thought but "admired" is uncomfortable, we're not carving pasture out of wilderness in the manner of Ms. Moochops.


I tell you though, I now admire the pioneers who chopped the trees and built stump fences using only hand tools and horses, that anyone survived the winter here is a miracle.

This is so true and sometimes, even when we find the place that meets our requirements, there can be some hidden surprises.

I bought this place, scenic spot, old farmhouse in need of some care and attention, in the frame of mind that I wanted a character house in a semi-rural location, that I could work on and improve over time that my kid would cherish as her "home" for years to come.

The two big things, that I'd never put any consideration into,were:
-Positive point: There's almost always at least a bit of a breeze blowing up the hill so the bugs are often kept to a minimum,
-Grass/dandelions etc grow at least 3 inches a week during May and June. This is incredibly tedious, as cutting the lawn around the house takes me 2 hours (the rest I have cut once a year to maintain it's 'field' status) each time. Believe it or not, I cut it on Thursday evening and some of it already needs cutting again

I believe that. I cut the grass on Monday and when I cut it again today it looked as if I'd never touched it. The pastures usually get cut once a year but that's another thing, the flailing hammer behind the tractor chops everything to nothing in one pass.

When the mower breaks again, I think I'll buy a rotorvator and mince the whole lot up. That'll learn it, stupid grass. When I pass my neighbours in the street I'll stare ignorantly towards the horizon.

My mower broke this afternoon. I was about 2/3 way through the back bit on the trusty JD when I mowed over a hidden bit of lumber about 4x2x10 (inches to please dbd33).

Result: buggered blade and a yard with a half shaven beard.

I wouldn't say so much as carving an oasis in the wilderness - more like expanding my handy horizons!!!

The yard takes 5 hours to mow - luckily there is need for a new fuel hose on the pull behind mower, rendering it disabled for the weekend.

Shame

after trawling the net for ideas, have found a stunning deck design that will look awesome - I love the planting around it too.

http://www.trex.com/photogallery/default.aspx

Now to convince the powers that be that this is what is needed

Didnt mean to cause discomfort. I just am lazy and so admire those who get up and do stuff. I'm more of a porch sitting drinker myself.

It takes MOh 2 hours to mow the lawns with the gas mower. I take 1 hour to do the front lawn with the push one, and another hour to do the strimming bit. God do I need that gin after that

It is stunning, though I wouldnt go for the pointy bit in the middle of the steps, falling downness would happen.