Befores and Afters

March 31, 2007. Looking south at the front porch.

Before ... the bike cellar, taking up the concrete walkway, replacing the porch floor, adding a box to cover the width of the stairs, creating garden space, moving the fence, and before moving the rhodie and other plants from around the yard.September 13, 2008. Looking south at the front porch. After all that.

Most of the grayish leaves in the photo are a volunteer pumpkin that has done its best to take over the garden if not the world. It has powdery mildew after a run of damp days and cool nights. But we've got a 6-inch pumpkin fruit, as well as a host of fingerlings, so I'm keeping it alive as long as possible.

Aside from the Takeover Pumpkin, the garden is planted mostly with emergencies. I planned the rhododendron, and there's a pretty border of marigolds and snapdragons. There is also an azalea and a miniature rose rescued from the front beds, and rhubarb from the back yard. And in late July in desperation I dump/planted all the annual bulbs that were still slowly rotting in their original plastic bags (mostly dahlias and gladiolas). About half of them actually grew -- the gladiolas much too late to blossom this year, but we're getting a wonderful September surprise of huge pink dahlias (we'll pull the bulbs and replant next spring, hopefully sooner in the year).

Other Befores and Afters of the same corner of the yard. I am pleased to say that most of these photos were taken on the same day, at about the same time, one year apart. It's like a "Spot the Differences!" game.