Things get ugly...

     We are now the trashy neighbors. Not that we throw beer cans in the yard and let our gutters fall down. No, we are still trying to have a decent home but our latest idea doesn't start out looking all that beautiful.  We have decided to make our whole side yard into a garden. It was going to be a bark chipped play area for our dog but he only likes to fetch at the dog park and we could really use the food. 
     It is not a large space but compared to the two 4x8 raised beds we have in the front it will be huge. One section is roughly 20x6 feet and the other is about 10x6.  So there will be a lot more tomatoes next year along with leeks, peas, broccoli and whatever else we can shove in there.  But the first step is to kill the grass. Which involves large black plastic tarps on the ground held down by chunks of cement wall rubble.  It is pretty ugly.

     The dirt in the foreground was covered for most of the summer and we just moved the plastic to extend the area. After the grass is dead we will rent a rototiller and till the dirt up while also putting in some compost, probably early next spring. We will have to put up a small fence to keep the dog out as he has recently become a digger. If only his powers of destruction could be harnessed for good.
     When taking this photo my back was up against the back of the garage. My plan for that is to plant an apple tree next to it and create a beautiful espalier.

This is what I have:

And this is what I want:

     Should be pretty easy, right?  I would also love to rip up the old walkway and put down a lovely stone or brick path but I may be getting ahead of myself.  After all, the closet still is not done.

     Now that the weather is cool and I am not spending as much time in the garden I can do things like organize my pin boards on pinterest. Before I was putting everything on my "For the Home" board but I have now created a "Garden" board for all my outdoor wishes.  If you would like to see them just go here http://pinterest.com/selbygunter/garden/. Feel free to browse my other boards as well. There is a Holiday Wish List board if anyone feels like getting me a gift.