Front yard finishing touches

This Easter long weekend gave us the chance to get a big chunk done on finishing the front yard off once and for all. This included leveling and staking in the final two raised beds and getting two loads of soil from Good Life Soil Co. in Midvale. Then it was onto filling the two beds and taking a load of green waste to the tip in the hopes to get some free mulch to spread in between the beds, but on inspection we didn't like the look of it, so it was back to Good Life to look at what they had, and they recommended some jarrah sawdust, which was actually perfect as it matches the raised beds, looks nice and natural and feels great underfoot, and keeps me from getting too messy while gardening. Plus it just makes the whole front yard look so much better! We sadly ran out of time and material on the weekend so we are going to finish it off this weekend coming, but here are some pics of what we got done so far. :)

Before starting out, beds placed, but not leveled or staked

After staking the bed filling it with newspaper and then weedmat

Filled with soil, Dave showing off his handywork

Weedmat down between the beds, right before starting to add the jarrah sawdust

After some of the sawdust had been put down

How far we got on the weekend, sawdust between the three beds and along the flower bed

Herb Spiral & Pond

While my parents were down visiting us this summer we got up to a little garden DIY'ing to create a herb spiral and pond in an unused area around the side of our front deck. First thing first we had to clear all the garbage and junk that had accumulated along the side of the house we never used. Then once it was clean(ish) we pulled up all the bricks that looked to have been half layed and then forgotten about by previous owners. (see pile in first shot behind me)
Dad had done a bit of planning on his computer ahead of time and worked out how to lay the bricks down, how big it needed to be around etc, and then it was time to start a buildin'! It actually went much faster than I was expecting, with it being completely built by afternoon of day two. Once the bricks had been finished we piled some sand and crappy soil to build up the level in the middle where it was highest, and then filled the top layer with our nice soil we got from the Good Soil Co. in Midvale. Once we had everything in place mom and I planted all our herbs and pond plants we got for around the edge of the water feature. The very last shot is what it looks like as of today. Filling in nicely I think!!
Enjoy the photos. :)

First row of spiral, figuring out the spacing

Dad and me digging the hole for the pond

Placed!

Proud daddy filling the pond

Dave approves!

Progress so far.