Garden Photo of the Day

Transforming a Rundown House and Garden

Years of work have made a beautiful space

Today’s photos come from Janice Martinez in Southern Oregon, who has been working on transforming the space for the past six and a half years.

This photo is small, but I had to include it because it is the “before” photo. You can see that Janice didn’t start with much!

And the “after” photo. What a transformation!

Lots of hard work went into building the structure of the landscape …

… which paid off big time in a beautiful, flowery, final product.

A spacious seating area for entertaining now fills the space.

foxgloves

Tall foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea, Zones 4–9) send up their spires of flowers. Foxgloves are biennials, producing a low rosette of leaves their first year and then flowering, setting seed, and dying in their second year. Sowing seeds every year ensures a constant supply of flowers, and where they are happy, they will often self-sow so that their blooms are a perennial feature even if the individual plants only live two years.

Delphiniums

Delphiniums (Delphinium elatum, Zones 3–7) are best in climates with cool summers, so they can be difficult to make happy in some parts of the country. Where they thrive, they are some of the most beautiful flowers you can grow. Here the scenery behind them is beautiful as well!

Everything set up for a garden party.

Nothing like getting all dressed up for a garden party!

 

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Comments

  1. wittyone 05/04/2020

    I always feel sorry for houses which have become rundown and their yards/gardens have been either let go to ruin or ignored. So sad.

    Your house is one of the winners with an owner who sees an unloved house and using her knowledge and effort turns it into a showcase.

  2. Maggieat11 05/04/2020

    Congratulations! Where most people would pass by such a challenge, you took it on with a great vision and what a fabulous make-over! Enjoy! As your guests will, as well!

  3. User avater
    meander_michaele 05/04/2020

    Remarkable transformation...kudos that all your hard work and vision have created such a beautiful setting. Using those very large patio flooring blocks gives that particular seating area such graciousness and then adding in the line up of umbrellas and tables curving along the lawn for the special occasion extra large gathering is just lovely.

  4. Dusanka 05/04/2020

    Lovely setting for a garden party. Enjoy.

  5. User avater
    pattyeckels 05/04/2020

    Would love to attend a garden party. Lol. Gorgeous! Love the before and after pictures.

  6. btucker9675 05/04/2020

    Be still my heart! What a beautiful home and garden you have created, and in a beautiful setting. And I am SO envious of those stunning delphiniums... Thank you for sharing!

  7. User avater
    simplesue 05/04/2020

    I love a make-over success story and seeing before and after photos! Your home and garden are so cheerful now! Very pretty! Love those healthy Delphiniums, I'm giving my garden one more chance with them.

  8. User avater
    treasuresmom 05/04/2020

    Wow! Wish I had your energy

  9. Patchworkgardener 05/04/2020

    Beautiful. I also love your seating area. Just begs for a garden party. AND...lm green with envy over those foxgloves. I have trouble growing them. You’ve done an outstanding job. You’ll enjoy it for years.

  10. TreeSurgeonTony 05/06/2020

    What a wonderful transformation. You should feel thoroughly proud of yourself!

  11. user-5117752 05/06/2020

    P-A-R-T-Y T-I-M-E!!!!! How charming!!! How lovely!!!
    How inviting!!! Great vision, great job!!!

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