Landscaping the Front Yard

This past weekend, we decided to focus our attention on the outside of the house. This is the best before picture I have of the front of the house:

I had to work Saturday morning, but Jeff woke up bright and early too and ripped out 7 of the tall, tree-like bush things that were guarding our house.

Two weekends ago, I ripped out the scalloped stone edging and piled it by the curb. Jeff was very thankful that I had taken the initiative to dig them out, but he wasn't too thrilled about them piled on our lawn when he was trying to mow. Oops! But, thanks to Craigslist, they were gone within hours! I love Craigslist!

After I got off work, we went to Lowe's and began the tedious process of picking out what we wanted. We thought we already knew what we wanted, but you know how it goes... 
We decided on Crimson Pygmy Barberry for the front shrubs.

Some Day lilies for around the bench...

...lots of purple Petunias because they are cheap and easy to grow!

We thought we would try something new, so we got a Kangaroo Paw plant.

I love Hydrangeas, so we got a pink one to accent the corner. I didn't want too many of them because they tend to attract bees.

There I am...hard at work planting petunias. (I made sure Jeff took a picture of me working ;).

There was a peony bush already there that I want to keep. 

We bought a park bench that I tried to assemble, but Jeff ended up finishing.  

Jeff laying pavers...extending the front porch to provide more room for seating.

It's all done! Everything looks so puny right now, but I know it just needs time. Jeff and I had such a fun time doing our first landscaping job together...on our own property.