The back yard, a long time coming

Thanks for being so patient with me, as I left you totally hanging yesterday with the patio unveil. Between the patio construction and Caroline's first birthday party, we didn't have much time to really finish everything until just the other day. I mean the contractor was sweeping the driveway clean mere hours before Caroline's party started.

So let's just say we needed a few more days to tie a nice bow around things, before I could show everything to the blog world. So let's start the tour, shall we?

The new gate really frames the area, and I love how it goes with our cottage/Cape Cod house.

The backyard looks so totally different than last year at this time. I really can't believe it.

The plantings are in, although small to start, will no doubt fill out the space nicely.

Hubby wanted me to tell you that he plans to freshen up the deck/platform lattice later this summer. So please don't think he's forgotten. He's a hard worker, that Hubby. 

We planted a bunch of sea grass, to align with the tall fence posts. I like the non-structured nature of them against the bright white fence.

I hope to plant small flowers in this bed as well. I just haven't gotten to it yet. Hubby planted all these shrubs and is clearly more motivated than I am.

I bought Hubby these two chairs for our 5th wedding anniversary. Hubby and I like to exchange the "traditional" wedding gift each year. Year five is wood. Knowing this patio was going in shortly, I thought it was fitting to pull the trigger on something that would get lots of use.

Across from the two chairs is the grill zone. Usually Hubby is at the grill, while I'm sitting in the chairs - waiting patiently for dinner to be ready.

See that trellis? That was Hubby's anniversary gift to me. Clearly, we have been married long enough that we are starting to think alike - both planning gifts based on this new outdoor space. I haven't picked out a good climbing vine yet. I need something that likes shade. Any ideas, dear readers? 

The table set is Smith and Hawken, from Target. We looked around at many, many sets, but ultimately for the look and the price, we just couldn't turn down this bargain. You might notice how the cushions don't match, but coordinate. No, that was not on purpose. They were supposed to be all blue. You don't even want to know how many phone calls I made, trying to get the shipment corrected. In the end, it was a "happy mistake" and I'm fine with it. (I say with teeth clenched.)

There is plenty of room to play musical chairs around the table. The end of the patio, although further from the kitchen door, really was the perfect spot for the dining set.

We still have one planting bed, sitting empty. We want to purchase three Japanese holly here, but they were all out of season/picked through, by the time we actually decided what plants we wanted. We have Japanese holly bushes on the other side of the patio (the skinny, straight-like ones we planted after we first moved in), so the old plantings and the new plantings will relate well. If we have to wait until next year to finish planting, that's okay too.

On a related side note, we buried our gutter extensions under the patio before the slabs went in. Hubby dug trenches, laid stone, landscaper fabric - the works. That way, we don't get rain run off, not to mention ugly gutters, going straight through our new outdoor space. If you plan on installing a patio in the near future, I would recommend a similar set-up.

Now when you head outside the kitchen, there is no more crappy grass. No more "Riley spots", just a nice sitting area, waiting to be used.

With the exception of some really rainy days, we have used this space every day since it was finished. Hubby and I were commenting on how great it is to be able to dine outside. With such a short summer season in the Northeast (compared to other parts of the country), it's nice to enjoy the weather while it lasts!