Playground Bed

Outdoor projects are my new love...probably because I have no more indoor projects, but still, it's fun making things look nice. However, it is getting hot, so we are running out of time to do a lot of the heavy work.

I already tackled the deck earlier this year, so we are on to adding some landscaping touches.

• Create playground bed, line with stone, add mulch
• Insert stepping stones from the deck to the playground
• Re-line the flowerbed by the fence with stone
• Fill in bare spots in grass with either seed or sod
• Plant a couple crepe myrtles in the backyard

This is not including the dirt and sod we already bought for the side yard (though we need more there too), the new plants and bushes we planted in the front bed, and the seed we already spread around our front tree. Oh, and I need to repaint the chimney. Not landscaping related, but it still is on the list.

Yesterday, we tackled the big project; creating, framing, and filling the playground bed. It took 3 trips to Lowe's and was under $130 including tax.

We do not have a lot of space to play with, but we definitely have some potential in sprucing up the plain area. Lining the playground adds an aesthetic element to the yard, and makes mowing and edging easier. Later, for future owners, it can also work as a garden or a picnic area.

We loaded up the backyard with our supplies: Landscaping fabric, and fabric anchors; dozens of stone pavers; bags and bags of kid-friendly mulch; stepping stones; levels, shovels, trowels, string, markings for sprinkler heads, a hoe; and lots of water, suncreen, and persistence.

We started around 10am and including a break for lunch, we were finished around 3:30pm.

It was totally worth it. I think it looks so much better. We are going to be using the same stone to re-line the flower bed on the other side of the yard as well. I want to add a crepe myrtle in the back corner of the playground bed. (There is room, though the picture doesn't show it.) I also want to plant one in the flower bed for more privacy from our neighbor's yard.

I am glad to have this big project accomplished, it will make all the other tasks seem small. ;)


M.LEWIS