Many readers (myself included) found the original exterior tour of our yard a little tricky to follow. Our first house was straightforward: we could describe the back, the front, and the sides and call it a day. In that older post we even included a simple sketch that made the layout easy to grasp.

This house, however, is far more complicated. Although both properties are roughly the same size—about an acre—this lot is less long and narrow and more compact and square. It also has a lot more quirks, like a narrow alley between the original portion of the house and the rear addition, which creates unexpected corners and sightlines.

There are sections that look like they might be outside our property—slivers of land that feel detached from the main yard—but they actually belong to us. Those awkward edges add character, but they also make it harder to describe the entire site in a single, straightforward tour.

Winding brick paths meander through the back and side yards, linking pockets of planting and creating small, intimate spaces. These paths give the garden a charming, slightly cottage-like feel, but they also emphasize how many different areas there are to consider when planning improvements or describing the layout.

To make sense of it all, I sketched our lot, scanned the drawing, and colored it digitally to help communicate the structure and flow. It’s not to scale compared with the first sketch—this house feels much bigger—so think of it as a visual guide rather than an exact map.

We also made a video tour that shows the lot in motion, which helps convey how the different outdoor spaces connect and flow around the house. The video captures the overall layout and gives a better sense of movement from one area to another; it’s useful whether you watch with sound or on mute.

Our backyard has changed dramatically in the last few months. When we moved in, the back portion of the lot looked quite brown and sparse. Over time, however, plantings, grasses, and trees have filled in and transformed the space into something much greener and more private.

It’s not completely enclosed yet, but the new growth has made a big difference. Clusters of trees and tall grasses have helped form leafy screens that soften views into the yard and block sightlines from neighboring properties. We still plan to add some fast-growing evergreens in strategic spots to enhance privacy further—especially where the neighboring house can be seen from our backyard—but the progress so far has been encouraging.

There’s still a lot to do. Like our last property, we plan to take our time with the landscaping and let things evolve naturally. We prefer to make gradual decisions, try different plantings, and see what works. It’s the kind of project that’s rewarding in a hands-on way—messy, gradual, and ultimately satisfying when you step back and see how everything has come together.

Have you been tackling any outdoor projects lately? What outdoor features are on your wish list? I’d love a deck for outdoor dining someday, and an elaborate treehouse for our kiddo is high on my list too. Those are future goals for now, but imagining them is part of the fun.