See What’s Happening with the Garden Party Prep!
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity as we prepare for the Garden Art Party on April 12th. What started as a simple idea quickly turned into a full-on creative project! The invitation went out last weekend—if you missed it, click here.
The inspiration for the side yard transformation came from Shawna Coronado’s beautifully artistic garden space in Mesa, AZ. You can check out more of Shawna’s work on her Instagram page.

From concept to nearly complete, the side yard has truly taken shape. Here’s the “before” photo:

Paul and I built the raised beds right on our kitchen island! The design was simple, but the process definitely took some muscle. Each 2’ by 8’ bin required almost 400 nuts and bolts. Take note of the empty beer glass on the counter. This kept Paul going! 🙂

We lined the bottom of each bed with cardboard and layered garden cuttings—small branches and trimmings—to create enhanced drainage and take up space. A combination of topsoil and compost filled the bins.

Thanks to a generous neighbor, I was able to collect a beautiful variety of agaves and cactus pups(small immature plants from the parent plant). These desert gems are not only resilient but multiply so naturally. With these finds and a few additional plants, the raised beds are nearly done!

Here’s a sneak peek at the progress:

Just imagine colorful outdoor art sharing the limelight with the garden bins. It gets even better as you move to the back yard for more festive art and displays.
Excitement is building, and many have already saved the date! April 12th is going to be unforgettable.
Hope to see you there!
Happy Spring! Happy gardening!
Mary