When I moved into my Abbey in October 2010, I didn’t really have expectations for how its landscaping would change over time. I guess I was concentrating on the home’s interior and just assumed that bushes would grow larger and I would plant flowers in the spring.

That, of course, is exactly what happened. But this summer I’ve opened my eyes to the changes and the beauty that now surrounds me. Before I offer some before and after photos, I want to say that I take no credit for the transformation. I am not a gardener; in fact, I have a black thumb. I love to look at lush, colorful landscaping, but I don’t have the talent or the work ethic to produce it. I enjoy visiting neighbors who do and admiring their outdoor spaces.

So consider these photos to show the minimum that can happen in six years of mostly benign neglect.

Here is what has happened with the hydrangeas that came with my home:

2011

2016

I planted the shasta daisies below.

Three years ago

Three weeks ago

Now this final comparison isn’t quite fair because I didn’t have equivalent pictures. The “before” photo was taken during early spring, while the “after” is from midsummer.

spring 2012

summer 2016

I love my yard—which technically is the common area nearest my home—just the way it is. But I’m also excited to see how it matures given another six years of growth.