It Isn't All Cacti

Hey everyone, and happy Monday!  I thought it was about time I strolled around the yard and shared with you what  grows here in the Arizona desert.....and, no, it isn't all cacti!  As a matter-of-fact, you won't find any cacti in our yard at all.  It isn't that we don't find cacti pretty, it's just that we prefer its beauty out in the natural desert where it belongs.  That's our opinion....just sayin'.  Do you ever stop and think about the many transitions your home and landscape go through?  I think about the changes we've made inside and the changes we still want to tackle.  But the outside.....not so much.  Sometimes you just need to look back at what you've done before you can see how far you've come.

This is the only picture I could find of the front of our house just before moving in.  There were too many bushy-spikey things going on out here.  It was very unkempt.

Absolutely nothing about this was inviting.....I seriously doubt even a robber would have found it interesting enough to break in!

We immediately began to "friendly" things up!

Someone had her "snoop" on and was chatting with me as I took some pics!

Since The Man does most of the yard work, he has spent a lot of time getting rid of things he does not like.....trying to make it more maintenance-free.

You can see he has gotten rid of several shrubs and replaced them with a nice planter for......

Queen Palms and some splashes of color.

Bottle Brush Bush....trying saying that 3 times in a row!

This is probably my favorite planter, because I love how the alyssum cascades over the side.  The alyssum and chrysanthemums have been in this planter for 2+ years.....can you see the buds on the mums?

Another planter of mums getting ready to bloom.  These are from Fall 2013, I believe.  They usually bloom again in the Fall.

Bougainvillea! 

Mums in the backyard, too.

Desert Flowering Willow

Beautiful flowers!

My herb planter just off the back patio.

This fence line was completely barren until The Man started his Citrus Grove.

Farmer-Man surveying what 4 years has produced. 

This Corkscrew Acacia was nothing more than a stick when The Man planted it 3 years ago.

A new raised garden bed.....again, The Man's handiwork.

Several zucchinis will be ready soon.

Yellow Crookneck....this is on the cutting board right now!

Cannot wait for some of these!

Baby peppers....yum!

The previous owner thought it would be a good idea to have this pad poured.  Well, The Man took one look at this and visualized this......

Now this is a "garden shed," otherwise known as the Garden Casita!

Perfect location for this Lady Banks Rose....just wish the blooms lasted a bit longer.

The shiny silver tape on this peach tree is to keep the birds away from......

These little beauties!

These last two photos were taken a couple of years ago and the canopy of the neighbor's trees provides some wonderful shade on our patio now.

Our patio is quite large and is well shaded from about 4 o'clock on.....such a great place to relax for awhile before dinner with a glass of somethin'-somethin'!

Thanks for taking this tour with me.  It is fun to occasionally look back at what you've done so you can see how far you've come.

 

I often party with these lovely bloggers:

Monday
Dee at Meatloaf and Melodrama for Merry Monday

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday
Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Tuesday

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Wednesday

Suzy at Worthing Court for The Scoop

Thursday
Jemma at  At Home With Jemma for Thoughts of Home on Thursday

Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home