FRONT ENTRANCE OVERHAUL

Started this project during my long birthday weekend off. Thought I would just be cleaning the area up, trimming the existing plants and trees, and weeding the pathway. Started with the palm trees - plenty of dead fronds:

Filled up the green cans and then some after cutting up this massive pile:

The entire front entry really had gotten pretty overgrown:

The giants birds were out of control and all the potted plants really needed to pulled apart, refreshed with new dirt and fertilizer, and replanted with cuttings. You can hardly even see the stone path through all this mess!

Started cutting back the giant birds but then we decided we should just take them out before they outgrew and destroyed the stacked stone retaining area:

Instead of replanting, I moved the two Adirondack chairs I found on the side of the road and repaired up to that elevated area. We like sit out front and watch the light change as the sun sets; now we've got any even better spot!

On to the stone path.

This part became a multi-week project. The crab grass between the stones was pretty well established and all the lava rock was almost buried in dirt, debris, and weeds. I really needed to rebuild this entire area which meant pulling out and cleaning up all the lava rock, removing the stones, laying a weed barrier and then resetting the path.

Cleaning up the lava rock took was enormously time-consuming. I worked on it as I had time in the following weeks, slowly separating the rock from the debris, bucket by bucket:

Eventually the area was clear and ready for preparation:

Put down a layer of weed barrier and re-laid the stones:

Even recycling the old lava rock, I had to go purchase a few more bags to fill in the area since I had taken out a few of the smaller beds under the bench area. Also purchased some mulch to freshen up the front section under the palm trees. Sugar kept me company until I needed to weed that area:

Dug out the largest nandina by the steps trimmed up the smaller ones in the front planter.

Final updated front entrance:

Before and after comparison:

Now on to an even BIGGER project -- rebuilding the Japanese Garden...!