the yard - before we owned it

So here are two pictures of the house, prior to us buying it (these were the real estate photos that were used when the house was on the market).

So, the front....I want to rip out that ugly shrubbery right in front of the door.  Yuk on every level.  I have already re-shaped the holly bush/tree by the garage door, and now it looks like a tube with a flat top!  I would like to plant some annuals and perrenials, with lots of color.  So some daffodils, tulips in all sorts of colors, some lillies, and then some flowers that are full of color, but won't die as quickly or seasonally as the others.  I would like the front of the house to be very colorful and fun, but not all crazy looking.

The back.  Now, in theory this doesn't look too bad.  But I'm also not sure when it was taken, because there is now a butterfly bush right near that spikey looking thing, that is now WAY out of control (and getting cut back this weekend, insha Allah).  This is where I'd like some of the "natural screens" to go.  Stagger them along this side, and then at the back, so it is almost like a gate/doorway you must walk through to get into the yard.  I want to plant various colors of the clementis, so it will just be pretty and green and private!

Here's to happy planting!

*update*

Here is the right half of the backyard as of this summer (2011):

Before:

After:

Asalaamu alaikom world!!  (peace & blessings of God world!)

So, it's another beautiful day here in the Commonwealth of PA, and it is supposed to reach 80 degrees!!  Same for tomorrow, and insha Allah (God willing) I am able to get outside and do some yard work.  I guess I really have to plot and figure out what we want to do with the yard, then tackle it.  I am really looking forward to creating some "natural screens" with a metal trellis and some clementis (sp).  I think that will not only provide privacy, but it will create it in a natural way...not with an ugly fence.  Our next door neighbor Betty is very sweet, and I don't want to block her out in any way, because I wouldn't want to offend her. 

I did notice that a neighbor behind us has this little....looks like a tiny pond with a waterfall (mind you, these are townhomes, so it won't be huge).  The birds just LOVE it, and I see them flitting in and out of the water, almost like they are playing.  I've seen lots of cardinals over there (the red caught my eye, which is how I discovered their "pond"), and I am thinking of maybe looking into getting one of those for our yard.  Maybe not this year, but it's in the plans.

My DH wants to put more grass around, so we're going to have to maybe do that this weekend also.  I wish it wasn't Easter, because we have to go to my mom's for dinner on Sunday (we don't celebrate it), and it sort of throws a wrench in the works of the day.  I'd really like to get some serious yard work done, but we also have to move the beds up/downstairs.  We're moving the Queen down and the King up, because my father in law is coming soon, and he'll be staying in the master bedroom on the first floor.  So....if we can tackle that early, or maybe even do it Friday night, that would be just SOOO much better all the way around.  I think I might shoot for Friday night, and try and recruit Bruce!!

I will have to take pictures of the yard as it is coming along.  Sort of like a "before & after" kind of thing.

Wish me luck!  Insha Allah it all turns out beautifully!!