“Jenika, You’re Making This Too Difficult!”

I got yelled at today. Well, actually, spoken to sternly. The subject of landscape design has been a touchy one since this project began. Ken has wanted tropical and I’ve wanted something different, that I haven’t exactly been able to put my finger on until today.

The ONE thing I loved about this house the most when we first saw it was the hydrangea bush in the front yard and what did Ken rip out as soon as I turned my back? Yep, the hydrangea bush. Ever since then I’ve been trying to convince him to put it back in but he’s been pushing spikey this and cypress that and rocks here and ferns there. Remember when we found our inspiration at the bank? Well I liked it but the more I thought about it the less I did.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, we’re changing the exterior colors again. I won’t tell you what they are but I will tell you that they inspired me. With the help of one of my landscape designer friends I realized that what I’ve been envisioning is “Cottage Garden-ish”. Ken requested a picture and I sent him twelve so now he gets it and he’s excited too. “Thank you. Now I have something to work with. PS. How do you spell miracle?” was his response.

Hydrangeas, geraniums and camellias are what I’m after.