Gardening: the Wishlist for 2012

As a corollary to what I've learned, here is my wishlist for 2012.

• Gloves. Every year, I wear out my current pair. I need very good gloves, because my hands are always getting dirty. 
• We need hardscaping. This actually splits into two parts for me: 1. the fence, which is my number one priority, due to small children; and 2. pathways, which is lower down on the list but still there. If the hardscaping is in, it should be easier to plan and execute the whole landscaping design. 

Fencing: A more modern look? Or...

Should we go more rustic?

I really like this flagstone path...

But this grey paver path is also so sweet.

I love everything about this picture -
maybe we could do the rustic fence above, using these gates,
pebble the drive access and then use pavers or flagstones for the pathways?

• We need a good sprinkler system. Doug spent many weeks making sure that the garden and the new lawn behind the house were watered. Everything else I had to water by lugging around a hose. The more plants I put in, the more laborious this chore became. Next year, this is high on my list.
• A plan. Mentioned in passing above, this is really my biggest wintertime project this year. I need to map out our yard. Unfortunately, this does require a lot of measuring. And plotting. And thinking. But what else am I going to do when it's snowing outside?

This doesn't sound like a lot, but honestly that fence is going to be a killer - budget-wise and labor-wise. Doug wants to put it in himself, and we still can't really agree as to what type of fence we want. Our city also has extensive codes that we need to figure out before we can determine where to put the fence. The codes even dictate what materials can be used. We're not in an HOA (House Owners Association), but our city certainly acts like one sometimes.


So much for a relaxing winter...