Mom's Garden: Before and After

Last year my parents sold their house, which was located on about one acre of property. The maintenance of their yard and gardens was becoming a lot of work and they wanted something more manageable where they could relax and enjoy their retirement.

For my mom, the new house presented a blank slate for new flower gardens. Nothing had been planted or maintained, other than a few tired-looking perennials that were ready for the compost pile. The existing flowerbeds in the front and back yards were overgrown with weeds. Mom started by digging up the few scraggly perennials that were still struggling out of the unkempt beds bordering the backyard and planted new beds. The "before" photo...
After she cleared out the old plants and weeds, she dug new beds and enriched them with better soil and compost:

Next came planning. Many lists were made. Much time was spent observing the light and shade of the new garden. Then she started planting. There were many, many trips to garden centres to get healthy new plants. Here's how it looks one year later:

Gorgeous. Lush, green, colourful, and thriving. She's got the greenest thumb I ever saw. Here's another before/after, looking at a back corner of the yard:

And this is only the BACK yard. Next post will show the front yard - plus the new potting shed. Great job, Mom!