Backyard Landscaping Project (BEFORE & AFTER)

 Even though we felt SO BLESSED to move into our new home, that had a much bigger yard, the prior owners hadn't really done anything with it.  Even in the picture above, it's hard to see, but the "burn ring" is actually on a hill, so you couldn't even sit next to it.  The forest behind the house was so dense and overgrown that you could enjoy the beauty deep inside it.

 While we loved looking out to the beautiful nature, we wanted to see MORE.

 So these are all shots of the back part of our yard BEFORE we did anything to it.

 The below one is the view looking down the right side of our house, towards the forest as well.

 After we had been in 2.5 days, I heard the chainsaw start up and Will and my Dad went out to start cleaning things up a bit.  We then spent the next week just pulling out the undergrowth, taking small bushes out and limbing up the bigger trees so you could see past them a bit (and see their beautiful trunks.

 The above picture is about 1 week in of clearing and we could already really see the difference.  You can see our REALLY TALL extension ladder in the left leaning up against on of the trees.....which makes you realize how BIG this area is.

 After we had gotten the back back of the forest a little more cleared and laid a few trails back towards the creek, we started in on the fire pit patio we both envisioned before we even moved it.  Again, it's hard to see in these pictures, but literally EVERY part of our yards was slanted.  Nothing was even.....or usable. 

 After doing what we could, it was time for some bigger equipment.  At the beginning of July, we started in on created this space.

 Will and I both love big, alpine rocks and we wanted them as the retainment for this area.

 The landscaper we used did a nice job using some big stones to create the stairs into the fire pit area.

 Once the big equipment was out of the yard (having torn up a lot of grass on it's way), Will pushed quickly to get the irrigation system done.  He had already started on the left side of the house and put in a few zones, but had held off on this side and the back until the equipment was out and we had the design in place.

 Will had a good friend, Barrett Burbidge, help put in the system.  Barrett was so helpful and by the end, Will finished it up on his own having learned a ton.

 This picture was taken on the night that he "officially" finished putting the system together....all 12 zones.

Here is looking into the side view of the patio with most the rocks laid down.

 And looking the other way.

 One more sprinkler shot.

 After the irrigation system was put in, we brought in some sod for part of the yard (on the left) and then hydro-seeded the other part, which shows as really light green on the right side and beyond the fire pit.

 While Will's Mom was here, they worked together to plant some things around the fire pit patio, and Will got the fire stones to start making the pit.

 The next Saturday afternoon, Will and I started in on the actual fire pit.

 After about 1.5 hours we had this.

 Then we started bringing in the sand and compacting it down.

 The next day, we started laying the patio stones.  That was a fun jigsaw puzzle experience!!  Serious marital bonding, too. :)

 After the first day of laying flagstones.......

The next two days I put in a little time while Will was at work.  We ended up finishing it with 21 hours of labor and we love the way it turned out.

 

 The final view from the side angle.

And here are a few shots of what the backyard looks like in the mornings, now that everything is done.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

  There have been a few other projects we have done around the yard and I'll include those pictures soon.  Will has been incredible with the way he has gotten so much done, but also enjoying our summer vacation together.