Around the House: Our Backyard

I thought I would share some things we've been doing in our backyard.  It's still a work in progress.  After five years of being in this house, I finally feel like it's taking shape.  We fought for years with the soil... er should I say clay.  Try planting in that stuff!  

My mom picked up this nice birdcage from a local thrift store for a steal.  I decided it would be great in the garden.  I had the perfect spot where it looked like something was 'missing'.... petunias for colour and some climbing vines to grow around it... I can hardly wait to see what it's going to look like when it fills out, which it already has quite a bit since taking this photo!

The garden.  I'm attempting to grow veggies this year.... wish me luck!  Trust me... I need it!  In the ground I have, red basil, small orange peppers, radishes, lettuce, tomatoes and beans.

And just for the heck of it, I thought I'd try planting some tomatoes in those 'upside down' planters.  I'll let you know how that turns out.  So far, they are doing fantastic!  However, I must say, at the rate the raccoon's and squirrels have been digging up the garden, there might not be any veggies to harvest.  And the natural repellents haven't been working so far. Can't forget to mention the bunnies.  I have already lost two sections of lettuce to those fuzz balls!  And it's hard to be angry with  bunnies because they are so darn cute!  I welcome any and all deterrent suggestions that are natural (chemical pesticides are illegal here).

We made this ridiculously easy cat proof sandbox for Foster.  He can sit down to play at it, it's easy to move around and we can put the lid on when not in use to protect it from the rain and from stray cats using it as a litter box.

A friend of mine had an old tree fall down on her property last year during a storm.  She still had a pile of wood from when the tree was cut up.  I snagged a couple pieces to use as pedestals for some flower pots.  Foster made his own contribution by adding his pinwheel :)

There is always work to be done in the garden.  I don't think it ever ends!  Next projects... repaint the patio set which is rusting, and do something about the finish on the deck... which is peeling.  What are you working on this year in your yard, garden or balcony?