My Landscaping Adventures- 4

Our landscaping has been a work in progress, slowly evolving through the years.  We built our home and moved in, then spent the next couple seasons working on the exterior hardscapes.  It took two years before my back door had anything more than mud to walk out on.  Needless to say I didn't use that door very often.  It was such a wonderful feeling to get the patio poured and a small deck built, making that door fully functional, that's the focus of today's post.

If you have been following along (if not scroll down, there's links at the end) I'm sure you've figured out by now I rarely have straight lines in my hardscapes.  I like the soft, flowy look.  Here we've got it formed up, partially anyhow, and are working on getting it graded.

Pour day.  This patio is plumbed for a waterfall (brings water up from the lake and then down the retaining wall) as well as an outdoor kitchen.  Someday anyhow.

 We stamped it to match the patio below. 

 Here it is.  Ready for some railings and plants.  We also will be building a small deck at the house.

 Here's the view from across the yard.  My next major project will be covering the ugly retaining wall.

 Got the rails up.  This is the same railing we used on the interior of the home.  It's powder-coated rebar.  Love it!

 Just got everything planted and mulched, the first time anyhow.  I'm constantly moving things around and playing with the landscaping.  My favorite past-time!

 Here's the little island area.  I started with this gorgeous tree (think it was a mimosa) but it didn't make it.  Wasn't happy here so I changed it out with a small dogwood. 

 The start of the edge landscaping.  I am planning a rock pathway in the middle with another planting area to the left of this one. 

We have been in the house now for eight years I believe (could be nine).  I still don't have some of this area exactly how I want it (and with the addition of a dog who loves to eat lower branches and basically destroys plantings), but that's part of the fun.  Tweaking and playing with it until I get it "right".  Can't wait till spring so I can continue the process.  I've always got a plan, we'll just have to see how far I can get this season.

Here are the links to previous articles in case you're interested:

My Landscaping Adventures  Getting started in the front yard and an island of rock

My Landscaping Adventures- 2 The island border and a preview of the back patios

My Landscaping Adventures- 3 Back Lower Patio, Firepit and Staircase

Next time, lots of flower pictures.  All the landscaping has been in for at least a couple years now and I've got loads of flower beds to show you.  Also, I've started a new bed in the very front of the property with a few berms and I've worked on covering that ugly retaining wall.  That'll have to get split up but gives you a taste of what's to come.