Half done

The young fellow came as promised, and dug out both the area on the North side of the steps and the bush on the South side of the steps.  He hauled everything away, and then brought some plants for us to try out in various areas.  We discussed the plants and made our choices.  Tomorrow he will be bringing a truck load of soil, a load of mulch, and a roll of landscaping fabric, and then planting the things we have chosen.  He is a nice young chap and a hard worker.  We found him through a local plant nursery, and everything appears on the up and up.

Here are a couple of views of the North area in all its glory

And here it is all dug up.  We are hoping to be able to keep the rocks.

And here is the before and after view of the area South of the door.  We plan to put a Hydrangea in the area of the bush.  Removing the bush was a heck of a job, even after David lent him the tools he needed, after breaking his shovel, on the roots.