A new trend in gardening...

Today I did something that I am not sure any of you can say you have ever done.

I planted Weeds.

Technically, I replanted them. It started as a joke the other day, given my experience with plants, when Sam said "You should try planting weeds, maybe you could keep them alive." :-) And yesterday while I was pulling weeds I noticed a certain weed that has some rather pretty orange blossoms. So instead of tossing them with the others, I tried a little experiment and replanted them in a nice row by my fence. I felt like doing a little something with my yard--so it gave me something to do. Who knows if it will work. I think they could technically be considered wildflowers :-) (speaking of which, I have wished I could pull over on the side of the highway when I see flowers growing on the side of the road and dig them up and replant them in my yard. I mean--they seem to be striving with no water in the heat of the sun--that's definitely what I need! :-)

We also planted our tomato plant in our topsy turvey so wish us luck with that. And we planted a few flowers (vincas) that are apparently really easy to grow and to keep alive.

For a long time (the first 9 months here) I haven't been sure about whether I wanted to put forth any time/money to do anything with the yard, aor just leave it as is...a vast space of dirt. This week though I am having all of these thoughts about filling it with grass, and wildflowers, and a vegetable garden...

We do have the back patio which is paved with sandstone, and has a little tree, and has a wood fence--so I can enjoy myself out there. But the question is should I do anything to the front yard? and if so, what? If you need a reminder--here is what I have to work with. There is a small space of dirt by the front door and then there is the front yard and a skinny side yard, and then a huge area on the other side.

• We do have 2 more years here.
• I do have some extra time on my hands
• It would be fun to try and master the art of gardening
• If I plant mostly in pots then we can take them with us...but it would be cheaper not to buy a bunch of pots.
• If I do anything it will be xeriscape perennials (low water, and they should come back the next year) so if you have any ideas let me know. I am also looking at some 'low water-low work' grass.

Then again...

• We leave town a lot (making consistant watering a challenge)
• Would need to either invest in some drip lines of some sort or find a reliable neighbor to plant-sit
• any improvements won't give us an increase in equity (since we are renting)
• and actually the yards are all bull-dozed when you move out -sparing only the trees, (dumb I know but just the way it is) so its not like you will be making it a better place long-term.
• Whether I plant by seeds or by starting with little plants it will take a year or so for them to actually mature and look full and pretty.
  

Help me out--what would you do? I am up for suggestions--especially those that will take up space, are fast growing, or are inexpensive. (quick growing ground covers, make one section a sand box, put up a tether ball, add a playhouse of some kind, maybe have a section to play horseshoes) Here are some pictures of a few things that our neighbors have done, doesn't compare to the full-on landscaping in a city-but better than plain old dirt. (*note-the family with the swing has been here 3 years and the other two pics are from someone who has been here for 8 years).