Over the past 20 years we have made many changes to our little bungalow but none have pleased me more than the changes made in the garden.
This is the front before. The fence and gate were rickety even then but ivy covered it and we lived with it until May 2013.
What an improvement
and I adore my new arbor and gate.
Our front porch improved a bit at at time.
We planted along the straight concrete walk.
Now the path curves around a planting bed and is made of boxwood lined stones.
I like sitting in the rocker in the evening and listening to the ocean murmur.
The sellers sodded the front yard to clean it up and I tried to maintain grass over the years. It was a losing battle.
I prefer my current look of a stone path winding through shrubs, flowers and ground cover.
I have only this one photo looking toward the gate. Not much to see.
Wow!
The back gate leads to this patio which was cracked concrete for many years.
Now pavers replace the concrete and form a raised planting bed
filled with colorful blooms.
The front NE corner of the garden went from this
to this. SIGH!
My privacy problem solved by lowering a patio and adding a raised planter. From here I survey both front and side gardens.
This is the sad little spot between our house and garage.
Now all that is hidden by a handsome gate and plantings.
This is the view toward the garage.
We redesigned the space over the years adding a fountain with its inviting sounds. The birds are constantly bathing here.
Planting beds on both sides of the walk way are filled with color.
The front of the cottage is now visible and tidy.
How did this all this come together?
It was with the help of Kathleen Coss Landscape Design – I have come to think of her as my gardening fairy godmother.
And the meticulous work of Luis Cardenas- Landscaping.
Next week I will show you all the hard work that went into this transformation.
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Once upon a time..Tales from Carmel by the Sea 
WOW…great job and so very Carmel Cottage. Have missed getting your blogs…was there something wrong with my email? Hope not and that all is well…glad to have received this wonderful Garden Tour!
Linda
Biddlestone Cottage
Carmel-by-the-Sea
So beautiful! And, it made my heart jump when I saw your blog in my email. As always I enjoy your photos and your commentRy!
What magical home you have created. So very impressed. Carmel is my happy place. I spend a month every October…………cannot wait until October.
My golly! How wonderful it all is, Linda! Thanks so much for sharing.
Best, Mary
Sent from my iPad
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Welcome home Linda! So glad to see you posting again. The cottage garden looks great . . . it was a pleasure observing the transformation in “real-time” too. If you will be in town for Concours do call so we can meet for breakfast. Cheers, jfr
How beautiful and inviting! I have missed seeing you, I hope you are back among us once again!
So happy to see your post! What a wonderful transformation you you have performed on your home and garden. Can’t wait till your next post, you have been missed!
Linda your garden always looks so wonderful whenever I pass by. Love the new fence – glad to hear from you again. Hope all is well, Lynn
Lovely creative solutions LInda! Thanks for sharing. Happy to hear from you.
This is truly a dream yard and garden! I would imagine that quite a bit of hard work made this happen 🙂 It’s so nice to have you posting,again~
Lovey to see this beautiful transformation. I love the way you have made it so welcoming and restful. You and your husband must be very pleased with the result of your hard work. You’ve given me some ideas for my own garden, which needs a transformation.
So nice to see a post from you again. I’m sure you have been enjoying recording some interesting stories from the elders.
Happy days,
Betty (Melb)
Linda, thank you for sharing. Stone path, patio and planting bed are beautiful. It is so nice to see before and after photos.
Linda-I am so glad that “you are back”. Look forward to next weeks edition. Hope to see you and Bill in August. Denny Strauss
What a beautiful transformation! So glad you are posting again!
Glad to see you back! I’ve missed your posts! Which reminds me, I need to go back and re-read many of your older ones, since I’m heading to the Monterey Bay next month.
Wow, indeed! What a glorious transformation! Every picture makes me smile. I can imagine that sitting there on your porch or patio makes you feel just as happy.
Yay, it’s so wonderful to hear from you again. What a gorgeous transformation. It looks so personal and such a peaceful private space. I adore fuschias and your placing of them is just stunning. I will be back visiting Carmel in November, can’t wait.
Love it all, thanks for sharing.
Love it all!
Ahhhhhhh. What perfect timing to get another one of these vicarious ‘escapes to Carmel’ Linda sends to our mailboxes – right as I’m melting from the scorching heat here in my backyard today.
So glad you updated us on the progress, Linda, this is quite the ‘Before and After’, just enchanting! But my back hurts just looking at all those pavers ‘someone’ (AKA your husband) had to put down! 😉
If your other hobby coaxing memories out of hospice patients is going as well as this one coaxing beauty out of your once-barren Carmel garden is, Linda, the patients’ families will no doubt be very grateful for the comfort they’ll be able to derive from your work there.
Oh happy day- you are back! Thank you for sharing your garden.
I concur with everyone; I am very glad to see that “Tales of Carmel” is back and look forward to your next posting. Congratulations on transforming your Carmel home into a thing of beauty.
Glad to see you are posting again as we missed seeing all your wonderful pictures and writings about our special village, Carmel by the Sea. Thank You!
Yay! You’re back! Happy, happy, joy, joy. I am not a gardener, but I sure enjoy the beauty.
So glad you’re back sharing your beauties with us!
Oh happy day! Linda’s back with a lot of beautiful landscaping and fabulous ideas for me to try.
We are fortunate to live next door and enjoy all the beauty (and lovely neighbors as well)!
It is even better when you get to see it in person! Beautiful job by all involved!!! Sister-in-law Karen.
I was thinking about you the other day and up popped your post (speaking of fairy godmother’s), so glad you are posting again. Your improvements are unbelievable and so beautiful. Thank You
You did a great job redesigning the landscape!
Linda, what you are done is spectacular. I am a UC Master Gardener, born in Carmel, raised there, lived most of my life-there-Native and I just finished reading your post and was so compelled to comment that my heart is touched. I am so proud of you for this huge undertaking and the transformation and improvements you have made since you bought your cottage is heartwarming, that I had to set down and write this to you.
I also love Grigg’s Nursery and Carmel Native Nursery. As a Master Gardener I have gotten into native plants big time, studying pollinators and how important it is to feed them. I have certified my property as a Monarch Waystation and also a Certified Wildlife Habitat. The Monarchs are in severe decline and need milkweed desperately which I have planted in abundance on my property. I have also established a bluebird trail putting up numerous bluebird nest boxes which they also have an urgent need for. I have about eight nest boxes that bluebird babies are raised from each year.
One plant that is a native that I am especially fond of is, Golden Currant. After bees pollinate Golden Currant the blossom turns from yellow to orange and it loves being under native oaks. It is one of the most charming natives I’ve seen. There are so many things that can only be grown on the coast that the inland fries, such a fushia and you are so blessed. There are so many plants I love and would love to talk about but this comment would be too long.
Congratulations on a fantastic project and you have truly created why gardens feed our soul.
All so lovely, nice job on the house and landscape.
Hi Linda,
I’m so sorry to hear you were injured. I hope you have healed and regained your strength and mobility.
Your garden transformation is spectacular! Thank you for sharing it.
Best regards,
Ruth
Linda, I just want to say that I really miss your blog. 😢
Joyce