A tour of my back yard

I don't know why I do this to myself. Every year I say "I am not planting as many flowers as last year." or "I am not planting anything this year." And then spring comes around and I see the flower shops opening and all of the colors and life that's in bloom and I just can't help myself.

I have to buy flowers.

Inevitably I buy way too many and end up needing a new flower pot or two. On top of what I already have. I wasn't going to plant as many remember? And now I need more flower pots. I love them for a while. But then, I have to water them. Then it gets really hot and I have to water them a lot. Then there are mosquitoes and I have to bath myself in bug spray before I attempt to water them everyday.

Ugh....is it worth it?

Here's some pics of my back yard. This is most of it, but there are some flowery groups I left out because I'm not too excited about them.

A view off of my porch:

My million bells:

My latest flower collage. There used to be a giant hydrangea bush under this, but gradually over the past few years it has faded and barely grown. So we ripped it out! So far, I like this better - though it is 5 times as much work: (Can you find my guarding horse sculpture?)

My favorite spot. This is in the back corner of my yard. Unfortunately, there are so many mosquitos that I can't enjoy my favorite spot. I hate soaking myself in bug spray, and I don't like the thought of covering Elli in it either. It's a pretty big bummer. It is so nice to sit here. We are thinking of putting some solid white privacy fencing back in this corner. I think it will make it even prettier and really complete the yard...and when my neighbor mows his dirt it will keep it off of my shade garden.

I planted strawberries last year in a pot. Completely left them for dead through the winter, probably quit watering them early last summer and they came back! The even tripled in size! Unfortunately, I've had like 3 strawberries...the stupid birds have eaten them. I hate birds. The apparently don't get enough bread, green peppers, hot dog scraps, mystery foods (all I have found in my front yard) from my neighbors that they have to come and invade my yard barrier and eat MY strawberries that I haven't given them permission to do. My neighbors use their yards and street as a compost pile I think sometimes....they feed the birds. Only they aren't pretty birds...they are the huge pigeons you see in central park....I HATE THEM. I'd love to have a sling shot.

I digress...

Here's my strawberries.

I'll post of my front yard another time :)