So I did go and buy the dirt and flowers. I also bought some stone pathway liners. When I showed Scott my little garden idea I think he realized he’d better do something if he wanted any part of making the area look nice. We discussed the area further and he still wants to do something zen garden like. I’m all for it. He even took the initiative when he was at Costco and found a really nice light for the area. Very relaxing and easily set up.

We had a further discussion about how we both saw that area in our own minds. It sounds like we’re both on the same page and combining the ideas will actually work. I want to plant flowers, but filling an 8×8 space with nothing but flowers is a ridiculous amount of flowers. I also could never reach all the way in the back to water them since the front walk lines only one side, the porch lines the other, and the other two sides are hemmed in by a six foot wall and the side of the garage.

We’d been to IKEA recently as well and Scott had been looking at the outdoor areas for inspiration. They make plastic tiles that look like wood and lay like parquet flooring. Initially we considered laying it in front of the front window. An area that is also inside our privacy wall but much larger. It doesn’t make sense, though, to spend that kind of money for that area. He still maybe wants turf for the larger space. But the IKEA tiles would work for the smaller area.

After we agreed we still wanted it to have some kind of central feature, i.e. the light, and I said I still wanted to plant flowers, we decided both work. We’re going to lay the IKEA tiles in a square off center and place the light on it. Then, around that area, I would replace the dirt and plant flowers. Through the center I would leave a “path” that possibly stepping stones and/or a small Japanese bridge could be placed, as if it were leading you toward the light. I am so excited to get this going.

Unfortunately it looks like something IS growing in the area I planted. Its looking decidedly vine-y, so I’m thinking its a pumpkin. It hasn’t really stretched out yet so I could be wrong. I can’t decide if I should try and work around it or plow it in. I guess it also depends when we actually start working on this area. Maybe it will end up having enough time to grow knowing how we are with projects.