What gorgeous flowers, thank you! How I miss spring. On my current side of the world we are going into autumn, time to collect fire wood and take out the cosy blankets… Good luck with the house sale!

Glad you had a great vacation! And all the plants look great! I wish I didn’t have such a brown thumb.

Yea for spring and yea for flowers!! Looks beautiful. Also, just curious, do you have any luck with your open houses? We held one a few weeks ago and did not get one visitor!! So depressing… We will try again in a couple weeks though.

Nina – We’ve had an Open House every single weekend (except for last week when we were on vacation) since we listed our home for sale. It’s definitely not easy or practical but we’re determined to sell this thing one way or another. We’ve had a lot of traffic so far (about 12 buyers through the house) and will keep at it until we get a bite. Keep your head up and just keep plugging along. It only takes one buyer!

Those are beautiful pictures! I am so jealous…we have snow (again) and it was only 20 degrees here this morning!

The weather here in Denver has been typically schizophrenic for this time of year. Pushing 80 one day. Blowing snow and 35 mph winds the next; it certainly keeps us guessing!

Thanks for sharing the Weed Hound. Due to the nature of Mr. M’s job (and the fact that I’m 8 months pregnant), we recently hired a landscaper to take care of our new lot; I’ll have to see if he’s heard of this. Just last week we were talking about possible weed-killing options. I love the idea of this since we have 2 dogs who love to be outside, and will soon have a little one. Plus, I’m pretty much always excited by anything that’s done without nasty chemicals!

oh man, we in the pacific northwest are (im)patiently waiting for spring too! my magnolia has bloomed a little, but the cherry & the crabapple must just want to be reeeally late to the party!

and, my husband loves his dandelion popper. i think it gives him such satisfaction – especially when he gets one with a substantial root!

time for us to get that weed tool–with kids and a dog, we’re also trying to avoid chemicals.

your magnolia is beautiful! ours is white with a pink center, so pretty, but man, are those trees messy!

gorgeous yard!!! The blooms are beautiful! Can you tell me what that little “rosette succulent”? I just went plant shopping (http://designbuildlove.co/?p=469) and am planning out my yard, and I absolutely love that little plant! So beautiful!!!

A yard FULL of dandelions is never a good thing, but I actually like seeing a few dandelions around. They’re kind of cheery — and when they go to seed, I think they’re beautiful. :)

A word on the Weed Hound. I like the tool, but that’s not to say it’s perfect. As with any other tool, there’s a learning curve. And you’ll find that the soil conditions and size of the weed have an affect on how well it works. If it’s in a really wet area of your lawn, it sometimes can’t pull out a good plug. If it’s really, really dry it’s sometimes hard to drive into the ground. It works best in combination with good lawn care practices (not mowing too low or often, organic fertilizer, aerating, etc). I use it primarily to weed control those stubborn dandelions that periodically pop through. For those purposes, it works great and is a real back saver.

The weed hound looks like it might be my answer to those pesky dandelions that just made an appearance in my front yard last week! Thanks for the tip!

Such beautiful flowers! I’m so happy to see the earth waking up again. Your yard is beautiful!

I just read your interview and took the house tour. Beautiful home, and garden btw, but GOOD FOR YOU for making such a “against the flow” decision for you and your family. So encouraging and inspiring. Best of luck with everything!

We love our weed hound!

still cold here in the north, no blooming yet (can’t wait, though). The name of the succulent is sedum.

Oh the blooming trees look lovely!

Ashley – Did you see where Marcia named the rosette succulent? It’s sedum. I have 3 of them and love ’em. When it gets into summertime, they sprout upwards and produce taller flowers. In the fall, they turn a warm rustic red color. The best part? I never have to water them!