A tree grows on Lovers Lane

I finally have pictures.

This is what the front yard looked like when we bought it:



As you can see, the lawn was quite green and healthy looking and the look was, well, manicured. I never liked the weird circles or the vinca major, though it did fill in everywhere quite nicely.

After months of digging, covering, rototilling and generally making a complete mess, this is what it looked like after the rototilling on Tuesday:



And now, pathways have been dug (though more gravel needs to be extracted from the backyard) and planting has begun:




Yes, I know I spelled path backwards. Speaking of paths, this is as far as I've gotten with the gravel:



Not very far, I admit. Tomorrow is dig more gravel day.

So, I may just have a lonely plant here or there, but it has begun at last. It's odd: I liked the landscaping when we bought this house. I really liked it, actually. Except the weird circles and vinca, that is. It's strange what living with it and realizing the kind of water it takes will do to your perspective. I admit that not every plant I have planted so far (fuschia!) is water wise, but I am doing pretty well on that front. I did threaten to kill someone for almost stepping on one of my plants. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea. Then again, he didn't step on it. Oh, the corn and beans are popping up in the back, too. I also have what are probably sunflowers from bird seed at the edge of the patio. The previous owners shoved rocks in good nesting holes and didn't feed the birds. I, obviously, do feed the birds and have been amazed at the new birds I've been seeing. There was one out there the other day that, I swear, was talking to me. He was tweeting at me, and not with a computer. The bird feeder also happened to be empty, so my anthropomorphic imagination conjured up an entire conversation:

Me: dig, dig, dig.
Bird: Hey
Me: dig... what a pretty bird!... dig
Bird: HEY
Me: dig... stare...
Bird: The feeder is empty.
Me: Stare.
Bird: Did you hear me?
Me: Is your feeder empty?
Bird: Are you slow? I just told you it was empty!
Me: Aaaaw! what a smarty warty birdykins! you let me know that your feeder weeder was empty wempty!
Bird: Lady! enough with the stupid wupid baby talk! Mama has to eat!
Me: Shuffle, shuffle, pour.
Bird: Damn, you shuffle like the wind!

Oh yes, I did make up that whole conversation in my head. What? like you don't scare the neighbors, too. I am also, apparently, the "black plastic lady" in the neighborhood. My neighbor told me people were calling me that. Just you wait! in no time at all I will be the "raving lunatic who threatens people who even breathe on her plants" lady.

OCD isn't just a label, baby!