Front Flowerbeds

The most urgent yard work when I returned from Texas was the front flowerbeds. The bushes needed trimming, the milkweed was rampant, and the day lilies were full of buds that the deer were sure to eat! On one side of the door, the sidewalk was half covered with leaves from day lilies and other vegetation.

On the other, the milkweed were hiding the small nine bark that survived and filled in the hole of the one that died. The mint was so think that it covered the sidewalk to the front porch.

We went to work. I wanted to save some of the milkweed to become a Monarch caterpillar nursery but opted that it did not need to be on both sides. My husband and I worked for about an hour in the steamy morning heat with had trimmers and pruners. After 8 we got out the electric hedge trimmers and weed eater – hoping that everyone would be up and about by that time on a summer weekday.

After two mornings, we had made noticeable progress and were both pleased with the results. I put the glass bird bath in the stand of milkweed in front of the door. The taller plants will shade the water a little and provide some cover for the birds bathing or getting a drink!

We worked a third morning and pruned a bush to the side of the house to about half its size. Now to just keep it tidy….