We’ve been enjoying the clear blue skies and warm sunshine lately — I even managed to get a little sunburn to prove it.
Saturday was dedicated to outdoor projects on the patio, and it felt great to check several tasks off our mental to-do list. {We really don’t keep a formal list! 
}
A while back a storm toppled a large, beautiful tree near the front patio. I was sad to see it go, but there was nothing to be done about it except to replace it.
Buying a tree was a first for me, and I was shocked at some prices. I’d hoped for a Japanese maple, but tags reading $68 and $98 were beyond what I wanted to spend. Thankfully we found a lovely specimen for $24.99 — a welcome surprise.
The fallen tree had left quite a mess in the flower bed: exposed roots, displaced soil and scattered rocks. The first step of the day was to clear everything out, level the area, and prepare fresh soil so we could start anew.
After clearing the bed of roots and rocks, we planted the new tree along with a few additional shrubs and flowers to fill out the space and restore the curbside appeal.
Hello, beautiful new tree — welcome to your spot.
Next we turned our attention to another flower bed. While I love the burst of color that spring bulbs bring, the area can look untidy once everything starts growing. We decided to reshape and plant in a neater, more intentional pattern.
We cleared a path matching the width of the adjacent bed, added fresh soil, and then planted a mix of bargain flowers we’d found and some plants we transplanted from other beds around the yard. The goal was to create a tidy, welcoming display right by the front door.
I like to be greeted by cheerful flowers when I step outside, so the front row is planted with purple and yellow pansies. They should thicken up nicely and offer a bright, welcoming edge.
Behind the pansies we planted sweet peas and built a simple lattice for them to climb. Our son helped by cutting branches for the supports; we drove them into the ground, attached a top rail, and laced jute up the sides to create a rustic trellis that gives the vines something to cling to.
The lattice adds height and charm, and the sweet peas should provide fragrance and vertical interest as they grow. It’s a small detail but one that makes the bed feel finished and intentional.
There’s more to show from the day’s work, but I’ll share the rest soon. For now, here’s a quick full view of the beds — the transformation from messy to refreshed is so satisfying.
Before:
And after:
So much better. Now if only the weeds would stay away — but for today I’ll enjoy the refreshed beds, blooming pansies, and our new tree basking in the sunshine.
