Front and Backyard Update

I've been delaying the update on the front and backyard because I wanted to be able to show the before and after photos.  That way it would make more sense and you would be able to see the tremendous difference it has made.
So without further ado,

This is what the yard looked like originally, dull, dull and dull.  We always wanted to "do" something to it but it took us a long time to figure it out.

So much improved.

The planting is coming along, although we are in the midst of the hottest part of the summer and so planting will come to a stop for now.  It's just too darn hot and sometimes there is no amount of water that you can put to a new planting and make it live.  We are water misers as it is so we don't want to use any more than necessary.  

This next picture shows a real good before and after from relatively the same spot.  With the new path you can see more of the pond system and with the glider in place it temps you to stop and set a spell.
This is before.

And this is after.

I'm so happy with the way things have turned out and sometimes it's just hard to believe that it ever looked the way it did and it looked that way for such a long time.
The backyard before:

After:

 

Before:

 

After:

I think that we have a lot to be proud of.