Maple Springs progress so far

I snapped a quick pic to compare to how the veggie garden has progressed since 2010.  I wanted a picture before I started building the fence around the beds.  I decided to make the fence a lot wider so I can add another row of 3 garden boxes.  I'm excited to get those fence posts in an be able to see how neat and tidy it's going to look!

This was taken in the spring of 2010  Boyfriend was a little hesitant with what I was starting to do to his yard :o

This was taken spring of 2012 just this past weekend.  The fence work will start the weekend hopefully.  Can't wait to post a picture after that's started!

Where the garden started from...

I decided in the spring of 2010 that boyfriend's back yard was a huge unused treasure!  Still renting a townhouse with no back yard or garden I was really excited to get my hands dirty. 

These pics show what it used to look like.  Can't you just picture it full of stone paths, hidden gardens, water features, arbors, cozy hideaways and lots and lots of veggies?  Ok, so my plans are big but over the last few years I've learned it's not going to happen all in one season. 

WOW!  See what happened to the yard after 1 year !?!  My big purchase that year was the Japanese Maple.  (shh, don't tell boyfriend but I spend well over $400.00 at the nursery that day!)  I was lucky enough to be given the name of a local lady who loves to spend her days gardening.  I cant' take credit for these flower beds, those were all Rita's doing :)  The veggie gardens are all our doing, I thought I was starting small with 6 but after year 2 I found it was a lot more work than I ever thought.  Every day I need to remind myself to get out there and weed. 

Here is the sandbox in the back yard that needs some TLC in the worst way.  We spend the weekend weeding it and making it a bit smaller, my plan is to put my new present from boyfriend in the sandbox area.  Wanna see the after pic? 

Well the almost after pic.  We have to find something to replace the logs as they're all rotten.  We chipped the bark off to clean it up a bit but next year the logs will be replaced.  Let me show you what my present was...

How lucky am I?!  I get a greenhouse :D  Dad is going to build me garden boxes to go around the greenhouse so I'll be able to plant sunflowers and sweet peas to grow up the greenhouse.  I'm researching a good climbing vine to grow up and over the greenhouse.  That black plastic is down killing the grass underneath.  The plan is to build a brick patio between the greenhouse and the veggie garden. 

Look what I forgot about until the nice weather came and I ventured outside to the garden,

my garlic I planted in the fall!

One last picture of the seeds I've started inside.  This weekend I'm going to turn the beds over, add compost and a little food and give my seedlings a nice bed to grow up in.

Hello :)

I have two exciting things going on that I want to have the chance to track along the way. 

First is my garden plan.  I'm on year 3 of transforming boyfriends back yard into a garden that's full of lovely colorful flowers and enough veggies to get us through the winter months, saving us money on groceries as well have give us a peaceful, beautiful garden.

Second, is our lifestyle change.  We don't eat too unhealthy right now but definately need to add more veggies and better nutrition to our lives as well as a regular exercise routine.  I'm hoping to remember to take pics of good meals along the way and share tips I've found.