Before and after

Here is a rundown of the new plantings in my yard. It took the crew nine straight days of labor to tear out the old and bring in the new, then cover it all with 3" of mulch (for which they did resort to a "Dingo" to move it from the driveway to the backyard). The underground utility people were late, and one crew member tested positive for Covid. The others worked late and even over the weekend. I gave them a bonus, then embarrassed myself by bursting into tears of joy and gratitude. Now the yard feels much more manageable.

Before: Left side of front of house

After: Common Bluestar, Roundleaf Ragwort groundcover

Before: Center of front of house

After: Plantain-leaved Sedge, Prairie Alumroot, Butterfly Milkweed, Wild Columbine, Wild Geranium, Aromatic Aster, Nodding Onion, Hairy Beardtongue (coming soon)

Before: Right side of front of house (boxwood hiding behind the goldmop)

After: Cumulus Serviceberry, Prairie Alumroot, Roundleaf Ragwort

Before: right side of back of house

After: Winterberry Holly

Before: left side of back of house

After: Low Scape Hedger Chokeberry

Before: facing north

After: Serviceberry (and Honeysuckle Vine is revealed!)

Before: facing northwest

After: My play area, plus Shagbark Hickory (coming soon)

Before: facing west

After: Spicebush, Canadian Hemlock, Winterberry Holly, Swamp Oak

Before: facing south

After: one Witchhazel joined by four more

There are a couple of more plantings to go. The south and north sides of the house are untouched, more areas for me to play in. I've rehung (most of) the birdfeeders, moved some containers off the deck, etc. It didn't rain the whole time, but now we are having a lovely drizzle, lessening my watering load. Now I can carry on with my usual chores of trimming back trees and shrubs, trimming, mowing, etc. I'll post a complete plant list separately.