Our New Yard - Before and After

Our yard is finally "finished".  Enough to show pictures at least.  Really the landscaper's work is done and now our job begins.  Since we laid new sod we've got to wait a couple of weeks before we can walk on it, so all of the planting that we have yet to do will have to wait until next weekend, but here are some pictures in the meantime.

Before Pics:

During Pics:

Andrew took the wall down so that we could make this planter smaller.

Working so hard while I just take pictures.

I'm so glad we didn't try to transplant these ourselves.

After Pics:

The grass has started to fill in really well and all those brown spots are looking so much better.

This back corner will be where we plant our raspberry patch and we're planting blackberries is the raised planter bed.

I really like my new Japanese maple garden

I'm going to plant some hydrangeas in that far planter.

Kinda weird how just certain areas burn.  These too are turning green now.

I know this planter still looks huge, but it is so much smaller than what it was.  Now I'm wondering what to put in it.  Any suggestions?  I'm hoping to fill it this weekend.  It looks pretty bad and it's really standing out especially since our house and the previous owners were sort of "that house" in our neighborhood.  You know the kind.  The yard always looks perfect, they spend every waking moment in the yard and all the neighbors strive for their roses to look as good.  Yeah, that's not us.  But, I still think we need something nice and I do like to have nice curb appeal.  I just don't want something that requires as much attention as my children.  I have a few ideas floating around, but I would love to hear your suggestions as well.