Dark and shady comes to life!

Our latest excitement and proud project is the dark corner in our backyard. Adam and I really didn't know what to do with it. It was always muddy and the grass wouldn't grow. Then a month or so ago I saw a picture in a gardening magazine that gave me an idea... and what was once dull and boring is now our cute little "Shady Nook". The best part is that we did it for next to no $, which is good cuz we didn't have any to spend!

Here is the space before we started.

The first thing I did was go online to ksl.com (which I highly recommend for everything) and searched the classifieds for dirt. Once we found it we removed the brick from another part in our yard (that we will remodle next year) and made a patio sample. Then while Adam went to get the dirt the kids and I started pulling out grass. Which wasn't hard since it wasn't really growing.

So then Adam, my brother Tyler and I all unloaded the dirt. It's not topsoil, but it was free.

Then we put down the patio, again. This time level. Which I must say this was the hardest part. But Adam did a great job.

The kids and I had to test out the new bench.... that I put together! Not with ease though.

Add in a few hostas, impatients and some moss to fill the patio spaces...

Tada! We love our new spot. Oh and the two stepping stones to the left are so the kids can still visit with the neighbor dog through the hole in the fence, without killing my plants.

Here it is again at night. I can't wait to see the plants grow and fill in. We love working in the yard and this was a lot of fun.