"T" as in the TEAM TOILS for Alphabe-Thursday

It's "T" day for Alphabe-Thursday sponsored by Ms. Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent."  The letter "T" couldn't have come up at a better time.  This past weekend some of my TEAM helped me TOIL in the front yard.

It was time to get the yard in shape for Spring.  Here we usually go right from Winter temperatures into Summer temperatures so I wanted to get the mulch down before it got hot. 

When we moved in the front had white rocks edging the bed, but I wanted a different look.  The last time Keith visited he lugged the white rocks into the backyard for me.  I dug a trench so the landscapers wouldn't have any trouble edging and keeping the grass out of the bed.  We have St. Augustine grass which has runners and they can easily creep into places where they shouldn't go.

I like to use Pine Bark Nuggets for mulch because I find they last longer.  I always put 4 or 5 layers of newspaper down, wet the paper, and then dump the mulch on top.  It takes a while for the newspapers to decompose and they help keep weeds to a minimum.

Keith opening a bag of mulch.

Reid wetting down the newspapers behind the bushes while Keith spreads mulch.

The old lady spreading the mulch just so!

Getting all the newspaper covered before it blew all over the neighborhood.  Wouldn't you know it would be a windy day.  We had to work quickly.

I think it looks much better.

I've since planted Monkey Grass along the edge to help keep the Pine Bark Nuggets contained.  I don't know if you have Monkey Grass where you live, but it's dark green grass like stuff that eventually spreads and thickens.  I forgot to take a picture today and it's dark outside as I type this, so you'll have to use your imagination.

Now I need your help.  When I was looking for a place I almost didn't look at this house because I thought it lacked curb appeal due to a strange window in the stairwell.  I ended up falling in love with the interior and thought perhaps I could do something to help the ugly window.  Here it is...

The builder never put shutters on that window.  Do you think shutters would help?  I like the bushes and would hate to have to move or transplant them, but I think there should be something with height under that window.  Would some kind of ivy look OK?  Maybe a trellis?  There is some room behind the bushes, but not enough to plant a shrub.  I'm open to any and all suggestions, but remember this is a semi-tropical climate and not everything can survive here.

I also tucked a few Gnomes in among the bushes in the front and then hid a couple of naughty Gnomes behind them.  They're to the left and right of the front door.  I wonder if anyone will say anything when they come to the door?  Those naughty, naughty Gnomes!

Thanks for visiting and now head to Jenny's blog for a list of this week's participants.

Thanks Keith and Reid for all your TOILING!