Planting Our Little Prairie

I'm so excited that Fall Break is finally here!  The local school system is off all week which means my wonderful hubby is at home all week!  I've been very much looking forward to this week as we have set it aside to finally add some plantlife to our dull/dead suburban backyard.
Some of the plants we bought on clearance at Lowe's.  The rest we transplanted from my uncle's extensive and beautiful master garden.  I wanted hearty, drought resistant perennial bushes that flower at different times of year as well as some breezy grasses.  Steve is gracious enough to let me run with my vision of our little prairie all while doing most of the grunt work.
 

Our little helper toting an azalea around to the backyard.

Steve working hard to dig a hole for one of the two forsythia bushes.  Every spring the bright yellow buds of forsythia bushes remind me of my dear college roommate, Beth.

 

Katie and I planting an azalea.  Bless her heart, Katie's lived in the city her whole life, but she's a country girl at heart.  Outside in 65 degree weather with bare feet in the mud!

We finally have a tree in our yard!  A transplanted maple that's about the same height as Katie.  I look forward to seeing it grow as she does.

Not sure what this is, but it's a purple grass that feels like feathers.  I LOVE it!!  We planted it so that it can be seen from the large dining room window.

My heart is full of joy when I look in the backyard now.  I can't wait to see how each plant grows and transforms with the seasons and years.  Isn't nature such a beautiful illustration of life in general?  Thank you God for Your creation!

And one last note... while Steve was taking a short break he noted, "you've turned me into a dang hippy.  I'm working in the garden, drinking water from a glass jar, and wearing crystal deoderant." I shot back, "about time your lifestyle matched your politics." ;)