It was a multi-month project, but relatively painless compared to indoor remodeling. Far fewer details, more margin for error. Still, overseeing any project is a big time sink. And like most homeowners, we were really burnt on the bleed. It just keeps costing and costing.
Still, the satisfaction level is very high. Even with the inevitable "gee I wish we'd done this a little differently," or finding out what spaces you're attracted to or not, I just love looking at it. I like coming home and seeing the pretty arrangements. I like walking around on the weekends and looking for weeds or trimming back flowers. I like the idea of replacing some of the plants I don't like or that have died with something else. If we made any mistakes at all, it was by not insisting on a lot more privacy, but I think we hesitated at that because it'd completely change the feel of the place. The openness and park-like-ness of it are what's so appealing. Then again, I don't actually spend much time out there, but then again, that could because whatever little time I spend relaxing is done in bed watching TV, if at all.
But I sure do like looking at it, and that's what counts!
More photos later, I just had to get that punchlist off the top :).
