Landscaping as Art

Did you ever think of  yard work as art?  It's hard work and hot and something we all have to do, so why would you think of it as art?

Well, I started a huge back yard remodel mid-June this summer and it's turning out to be a lot of work.  I've been posting progress photos on my Facebook and Instagram accounts, and many people have commented that what I've done so far is a work of art.  Wow, I never thought about it that way.  All I know is it's a joy to my heart.

I've decided that if I can't be painting in the studio, I can be creating in my back yard.  I have this vision in my head, just like a vision I may have when I start a painting.  This project is quite a challenge and a progressing just like a painting, sometimes with a mind of it's own.  I have a general plan, but go with the flow and change my plan when I think of new ideas.  That's how art works.

So how did this all start?  Did you know that in north Colorado Springs, this is considered high desert, and if you don't water the lawn it will die.  And to water a big yard, you may be surprised with a $400 monthly water bill in summer.  Ouch!  That's what happened to us a couple of summers ago.  So, what do you do?  You let the lawn die and landscape so that there is NO GRASS!  I'll happily spend money to water vegetables, trees, shrubs, and flowers.  All these feed us, our family and neighbors, our honey bees, and all the birds and insects that now visit our back yard.

So next time you're working in your yard, think about what you can do to make your space a pleasant place to hang out and enjoy the outdoors.  Go on Pinterest and save ideas you like and think you may want to try someday in your own yard.  Then go out - and create ART!


Before:  The lawn died - and the weeds took over!





First Step:  Pull all the weeds and level the yard.  Well, that took days!

The initial plan was to add 2-3 inches of playground chips where the grass used to be.

That then made the concrete patio too low.  Solution?
Add pavers on top of the concrete and raise the patio.

Not that complicated, but wow - several days of more hard work.

But it was worth it - my new sanctuary in the evenings.  Right at the back door to my studio!

Lots more to come in the big project.  Stay tuned for the next stages.