Beautiful Garden

I did it! I did it! I finally asked for help! 

Well, I've asked for help before, but never for a big project. I'm a massive "do it myself" person. I always have been. Group projects in school? I detested them. Hated them at 10 and hated them at 42. I'm not a "let's work together" girl. AT ALL.

So this is a huge, momentous occasion worth celebration. I saw something that needed to be done. I assessed my ability to do the task on my own. Saw it wasn't possible. AND I asked my family for help. They were so sweet and jumped right in. The results are fantastic. We all brought our skills to the "clean up the back patio" project.

Farmer ME!

(I love my back brace.)

My mother knows a lot about plants, their needs and pruning. So she tackled my neglected pots. She also put together the beautiful Lodge grill that she bought three years ago. Finally we'll get to have some family cook out's back there. That's her jam.

My son brought the muscle. He cleared out a lot of weeds, spread mulch, took out trash, filled our compost bin and just in general did everything I asked him to do without complaint. He's great at doing what you ask him to do, as long as you're specific.

We crushed my to-do list in two days and I'm thrilled with the results. I should have taken some "before" pictures, but here's the flow now...

Max enjoying his bed in the sunshine

Next to my new potting trunk

YAY! All my pots and soil are out of the weather.

Some of my beauties. 

Our new hibachi area. 

The pail is full to the brim with charcoal.

My mom suggested spray painting this table hot pink.

I'm down for it!

My beautiful freesias are in bloom.

Mom re-potted our big palm.

She's a gardening BEAST!

Newly fixed up plant corner.

My gardening table to the right.
The left is a long table and chairs for feasting and chatting.

Tomorrow my husband is going to help me with the lights and to hang some canopies on the pergola for shade. I can't wait to finish up and have it be our dining room. (Since we gave up the indoor one for his office.)

I'm very glad I asked for help and I will do it again in the future. Working with my family was much more fun than doing it alone.