Something's Bugging Me...in a good way!

When we moved into our new (old) house

a year ago,

the house had sat empty for over two years.

There was absolutely no landscaping.

Zero.

Nada.

None.

There are seven huge trees that line the 

front and go around the corner of the 

corner lot the house sits on,

but not a single bush or flower.

Looking off the front porch towards our neighbors.

The positives of that are that we don't have 

someone else's plethora of shaggy bushes and 

overgrown "stuff" to deal with.

The negative is that it was just plain bare!

Last year we devoted our time and energy to

1. moving

2. unpacking

3. saving the trees and grass.

We were told by a neighbor that one of the previous owners

had used an industrial farm-strength weed control

on the yard and trees (????).

It showed. 

Ironically, the only thing in the yard were weeds 

and those 

seven trees that line the property

were full of dead branches as well.

The boys and the Hubs trimmed the 

massive tree debacle and got them

back to looking terrific,

and the yard is starting to 

recover as well.

We got the sunny part of the yard looking like

green (bermuda) carpet.

Now we are working on the shady part!

We also started the slow process

of adding greenery, flowers and shrubbery

to the property.

I am a firm believer that this is a process 

and not an over-night fix.

Excuse the randomly placed wicker settee. I had just got it and put
it on the porch and had not 'placed' it yet!

So for the past week or so 

we have been adding.

The boys used some of the stone from 

the garage to create flower beds.

They put it at the front of the house

and around each of the seven trees.

It will take time to fill it all in, 

but it already looks like

someone loves the house.

We found a stone that 'somewhat' resembled

Oklahoma

and Coulter chipped away on it,

till it really resembles

Oklahoma.

So of course,

it had to have a 

prominent spot in the front

(someday beautiful) flowerbeds.

You can't tell because of the way I shot the picture,

but it is actually a big rock

....and very heavy!

We have purchased porch paint

to begin spruce up the porch,

but we have not had a single 'calm' day

to paint the porch

since I have been out of school.

I have no doubt we will have many 

calm and hot days coming up.

Next summer we plan to paint the entire house.

YIKES!!!

Speaking of that Oklahoma wind,

last night we had a huge storm brewing.

I went out on the front porch to look for the cat

to bring him in before the storm hit.

Much to my surprise I saw a man in our yard

"pouring" something out of two big bowls

onto the flowerbeds that surround 

two of the trees.

Yes, I gave him "the stare".

He saw me giving him "the stare" and 

immediately came over to the porch.

He told me that one of my neighbors

was so happy with the way we were 

fixing up the house and yard

that she wanted to send me something.

He was "pouring" ladybugs all over our

elephant ears and begonias,

impatients and hostas.

In fact he "poured" 

over a thousand of them throughout 

our flowers and greenery.

I wasn't really sure if "thank you" was appropriate

or if I should say "get the heck out"!!!!

If you look at this picture...

and the previous three...

you can see some of our new tenants.

I realize the pictures are a little fuzzy,

but dang, it was hard to focus on those little gals.

Plus the storm had arrived and it was lightening and 

the Hubs was not happy I was outside

under the trees

trying to take pictures of ladybugs.

Remember this? That is why.

Anyway, as it turns out, that man was a

"ladybug farmer".

Ladybugs feast on aphids.

Aphids are the pesky little bug that love

hostas and ferns

and begonias

and elephant ears.

So by giving me the gift of a thousand new

little lady bugs

my neighbor was helping to insure

our newly planted yard renaissance

would stay healthy and beautiful.

Wasn't that a wonderful gesture on her part?

So today I plan on using that 

Oklahoma kindness

and pass it along to someone else.

Have a great day....

wherever you are!

Lining up to:

Wow us Wednesdays

Open House Thursdays

Thistlewood Farms