My Journey

I don't think any of you - if some of you know it may be very few of you - but I live on a hill and its in the front part of my yard that my driveway goes up and around. This hill is somewhat steep and over the years I've had trouble mowing it. Lately because of the lilac bushes I planted spread out has caused my mower to get stuck as I go around them. That's been a pain to deal with not to mention all of the weed whacking I've had to do around each small bush now. Mike and I met a local guy who does all sorts of work with local farms, landscaping and educational related talks about native plants and editable plants of North East Ohio. He came to check out my yard and go over what I could do with this hill and we figured out for the area I want to be garden he would come back and help fill it with different plants for pollinators. He would charge $100 which I don't think is bad at all.
The lilac bushes have been doing alright - some are looking better than others. I planted some astilbes but they did not do well in the direct sun. So about a month ago I moved the astilbes into a shady area of my yard on the east side under some trees in a row as a boarder. I think they will do well there.
For the last several weeks I've been collecting cardboard from work and putting it down on my hill in a giant circle to kill the grass so come spring the plans can begin for the pollinator garden! With every piece of cardboard down I think to myself this will be a good plan! Less to mow, plants for nature and a rewarding feeling. This morning I'm going to get a bit more of it done - or hopefully if I have enough cardboard - I will get the whole area I want covered done! Fingers crossed! I'm grateful the weather has been nice to work in. Later today we are expected to get rain so I'm hoping to get it done before that happens. This has been a-lot of work but the reward will be nice in the end! Maybe more people will do more natural things with their yards as time goes on. One can hope!