Now that summer is here, I am hoping to spend more time in our backyard.
Our backyard is much improved from when we moved in, when all the backyard had was grass, some trees and a view of the schoolyard behind our house.
Two years ago, we put in a gray paver patio, and it looks great! I was lucky enough to snag a black wrought-iron patio set at a big discount from Smith & Hawkins when it went out of business three years ago.
My home’s paver patio with the Smith & Hawkins wrought iron patio set
Privacy Fence
My home’s backyard is also much improved since we planted some skip laurel bushes along the chain link fence that separates our yard from the playground behind it. The skip laurels seem to be thriving now, and have already spread some to fill the inches between them and have grown at least an inch or so taller each.
Just this spring, I put up a fence screen that completely blocks out the view of the playground behind our house, so when we are eating out on the patio, we don’t have to answer questions from kids about what we are having for dinner! I am in love with that fence screen!
A view of the fence screen and skip laurels in our backyard.
Since putting up the screen, I have planted some pink and violet impatiens under the trees and have put up some finch feeders. Now, when I look out at my yard, I can look out over the flowers and watch the Goldfinches feed. The view has much improved!
More Work to Be Done
There are still some things I’d like to add to my home’s patio space. I adore what Sarah at Thrifty Décor Chick did. (Take a look at the photos of her outdoor space on her Thrifty Décor Chick blog – they look terrific!) She put up a fabric gazebo over her deck’s seating area, and she says that when she shuts the gazebo’s shears, the space is relatively bug free. I WOULD LOVE THAT!
Sarah of Thrifty Decor Chick’s beautiful outdoor deck and lighted gazebo.
I also am in major like with the way she strung the garden lights from the rafters of her gazebo. Our patio only has one outdoor light fixture, and most of the patio doesn’t receive any light from that one fixture because the chimney blocks half of the patio from getting any light. So, when we sit outside at night, we are usually in the dark! Plus, we usually get eaten up by mosquitoes when we sit outside. I think putting up the gazebo and stringing up some garden lights would be a great fix!
Hop by Thrifty Décor Chick to see a photo of my outdoor space – and many other outdoor spaces – for your patio or deck inspiration!
Some of the impatiens I planted under the trees in my home’s backyard.