Before and After

If a person [me] is going to show an improved island bed, she must first swallow her pride, [mine] and show the icky "before" photos. She must allow people to see her imperfections. Her warts. Her foibles...

Here's what this bed looked like last August.  

 This bed is a mess. No definition, no purpose. Just a mass of plants, true? 

  In case you're not convinced, here's another angle. 

Don't you just want to grab a trowel and start digging? 

 Blah, blah, blah...

 This is the opposite side of the island bed. It's a tiny bit better. Maybe. 

 And one more angle. I'm just mortified. But you know how it goes? 

Sometimes the inspiration just isn't there. Until now. 

 I dug out the weeds and many of the overgrown plants. Added a few elements. 

 I planted up a vintage wooden army ammo case that I got at a garage sale for $5 a year ago. 

 I dug the ornamental grass out from this round container and added it to the ammo case. 

I left the Spiraea, on the left, and the creeping Dianthus, right. 

Added an ornamental Oregano, a Heuchera and a hardy Fuchsia.

 Look at all the space between the plants. Maybe I'm cured of my spacial denial. :)

Finally, I had to share this photo. Isn't he cute?