Lemons and Larkspur: the backyard path

Our sunny weekend never materialized but that didn't stop my dear husband from tidying up the backyard (it did however stop me from raking leaves and pulling weeds). I did manage to snap a couple of pictures to share with you.

My plan this spring is to pull everything out of this side garden and fill it completely with geraniums. They seem to love it in there and their happy unassuming faces always bring a smile to my face. I love a flower that doesn't mind a little neglect during the long, hot, dog days of summer.

This stone walkway that rings the grass was definitely one of the deal clinchers when we first looked at our little cottage. At the end of this pathway, just as you turn the bend, there's a small waterfall and pond that adds the right amount of motion and noise to the backyard.

This picture from last summer shows where we added some tall trees along the back fence for added privacy and a couple of new fruit trees for some additional shade and yummy fresh fruit. This year my hubby will be building a couple of raised bed planters for an actual vegetable plot. Nothing big to start, just enough to harvest a few tomatoes and summer veggies. I am looking forward to being more self sufficient now that I have more time (and less money) to piddle around out back.

Any suggestions for easy to grow vegetables that don't take up too much room? I know I want tomatoes and peppers but would like to put in a few more basics to round it out. What about you? Have you started tilling your soil or are you still in the dreaming of spring stage?

25 comments

Linda February 20, 2012 at 5:29 AM
Oh your backyard is so lovely. Thanks for bring in some sunshine.
It's still COLD here and the ground is covered with snow.
PatriciaFebruary 20, 2012 at 5:59 AM
Be sure to add some herbs, especially basil to go with your tomatoes. Baby Persian cucumbers are wonderful and if you let them grow on a trelis they won't take up room. I find the seeds for them at OSH, and they are Renee's Garden seeds. Renee's Garden seeds are a bit more expensive, but the varieties offered are wonderful. I love the seed packets and save them. Someday I'm going to decopage a wooden tray with the colorful seed packets. Your backyard is lovely and it sounds like you are really going to enjoy it this summer.
Manuela@A Cultivated NestFebruary 20, 2012 at 6:15 AM
Gorgeous! I love the idea of a bed of geraniums. They are really wonderful flowers and seem to last a long long time.

You should grow what you eat. No point in growing something that grows well if you're not going to eat it - unless you plan to grow food to donate to a food pantry.
LANAFebruary 20, 2012 at 7:29 AM
Your garden is beautiful. I like to grow lots of Swiss Chard. It tastes like spinach and is very versatile, it grows here in NY from spring thru the fall, this year, with our mild winters, I am still harvesting. It likes cool weather, but in summer just keep it watered. You get so much for your money and can grow it from seeds.
JennyFebruary 20, 2012 at 7:30 AM
I love your back yard. We moved from southern Calif to Oregon about three years ago and sometimes I miss the mild winters down there. We're still having a lot of rain and the ground is too wet to plant. We live out in the country so I also have the deer to contend with. They love EVERYTHING!
Sunflowers With SmilesFebruary 20, 2012 at 7:45 AM
Your back yard is lovely! Love the path! I am going to start some raised beds probably with herbs and not sure what else. I probably won't start planting until March here in SC.
My Little Home and GardenFebruary 20, 2012 at 8:02 AM
I love the pathway around your garden. For the vegetable plot, I'd include some herbs, whatever you like (flat leaf parsley, rosemary, basil...).
camp and cottage livingFebruary 20, 2012 at 8:45 AM
Wowsa! Your pathway looks prettier
than any gardens I've visited. Of course I am partial to red geraniums too.
There are many vining plants that take up little space. All kinds of beans, cucumbers; even squashes will vine up a trellis.
It's 4 months until planting time here, so I dream about it, but that's all!
TracyFebruary 20, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Your backyard is beautiful and Ilove your red geraniums! :)
Julie HarwardFebruary 20, 2012 at 8:58 AM
That is the best groomed yard I have seen...beautiful. I so love geraniums, I think that love comes from my grandma! ;D
DeseraeFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:03 AM
Your back yard is beautiful...love the little pathway too!
~Des
SondraFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:25 AM
My garden is still sleeping under snow. Tomatoes are about the only vegies I plant any more, but last year I tried a tomatillo plant. I got a few, but it needed a longer and wetter growing season than we have here. My herb garden is always wonderful.

I love the path around your garden.
{Bellamere Cottage}February 20, 2012 at 9:41 AM
What a perfectly perfect little yard... I LOVE it. So peaceful.

Blessings,
Spencer
Barbara F.February 20, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Beautiful garden you have. Too early here but I am thinking and planning. My dad always planted geraniums in our yard or in pots. We would mix them with palm, petunias, ivy. So pretty. xo
BeverlyFebruary 20, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Your're yard looks so good for this time of year. My one geraniums got frost bit. I hope it comes back. It is bright red and a favorite. I am still in the dreaming stage. Since we moved the RV about 50 ft., I lost my little garden space to the horses. But I now have a nice little place behind us to dream up a garden space.
You could do herbs. Mine are all in pots and don't take up much space.
MelanieFebruary 20, 2012 at 1:07 PM
Your backyard is gorgeous! I don't know where you live, but it's obviously somewhere warm. It is still very cold here in northern IL...gardening and landscaping is still a faraway dream...
MelMelFebruary 20, 2012 at 1:08 PM
Such a lovely garden....one day I'll have one as nice as that!xxx
RosieFebruary 20, 2012 at 2:12 PM
What a beautiful garden and the idea of planting colourful geraniums will look great against all the variety of greens. I love the path also, defining the edge of the lawn. Happy planning for spring planting :-)
❁Velma ~Down Our Country Road❁February 20, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Your yard looks so lovely. You'd never know it was winter! I love geraniums. They are so sturdy yet delicate looking. I'm jealous! I have been wanting a pond/waterfall next to our back porch for several years. The ground is too hard to grow anything so I think a pond would be a great. I think you will truly enjoy your raised flower beds (great idea!). Doggone it, girl...you've got me coveting again! ;)
Dayle ~ A Collection of DaysFebruary 20, 2012 at 3:28 PM
Beautiful outdoor space. I've never had much luck with geraniums but love them so.
On Crooked CreekFebruary 20, 2012 at 3:55 PM
Patty,
You have a wonderfully landscaped back yard, dear friend! Have you tried a few herbs? I love basil and chive...perfect in salads and with those tomatoes. One of my favoties...bread, butter and snippets of fresh chive! YuM!Fresh basil with fresh tomatoes...simply divine!
Fondly,
Pat
Britt LaurenFebruary 20, 2012 at 4:13 PM
Wow, your backyard is so very beautiful!! It looks so bland and barren here and that makes me feel so refreshed and happy!! you take very good upkeep with your lawn and flowers- very beautiful job!!
ButtercupFebruary 20, 2012 at 6:48 PM
So pretty! It's time for geraniums to perk up my kitchen. Sadly, no yard.
Maureen WyattFebruary 20, 2012 at 8:46 PM
What a lovely yard you have! You could try green and yellow beans. I do successive plantings about two weeks apart for a continuous supply. They put nitrogen back into the soil. ~ Maureen
SheilaFebruary 21, 2012 at 10:42 AM
If you like green beans, plant pole beans.....they grew well for me last year. :)