I hate grass!

[secuono]

Picked a tree, weeping white cherry.

 

[secuono]

Got more done before the cold and rain came in yesterday.
Brownie points to anyone who can spot the new addition I haven't mentioned in the pics.
Going to be working on the stripes and finish this side of the yard as soon as the weather is warm again!

 

[Smart Red]

I like your horse-boy statue. Probably more suitable for VA yards than a ranch-style in WI but I've always wanted one.

 

[secuono]

Not sure what it really is or what he used to hold. I just know he wasn't painted black before, paint chipping and there's another one on a store roof that's white. His also has nothing on the loop in his hand. Was thinking of getting a tiny solar lantern and attaching it to the loop.
Also have a white and blue fishing boy statue, no pole. Then two little ones of a grandma and grandpa. Got them all from my mother-in-law's house, she didn't want them. Thought they would more cute in my yard or at least try to make the yard look better.

 

[secuono]

Oh, you can see the fishing boy in the previous picture.

 

[Smart Red]

Not sure what it really is or what he used to hold.

I read this type of statue was to hold the reins of horses -- a job once held by young children -- after the late 1860's. There would have originally been a metal hoop in his hand where the horse's reins would be tied.

So did I win the Brownies? Or just get a few more unusable points?

 

[ninnymary]

Well the path is done and there is a brick border around your newly planted tree.

Mary

 

[secuono]

He has the metal hoop.
A real horse?? Mine would break the hoop....

Hmm, nope. Horse guy is visible in previous pics.
Ahh, poor wording on my part. You get a few points, Ninnymary.

The fence got a new addition to it. Horizontal boards to make up for the missing picket tips. It's so tall now, but it makes it feel like a real fence and not a ratty little thing. Unfortunately, no more shortcuts for me...too tall to step over...

 

[secuono]

Gave up on stripes of grass.

 

[stone]

Sad pic of the sycamore...
I appreciate a nice shady yard...

I hear you on the turf... Try encouraging some lyre-leaf sage. Mine is blooming now, really pretty... And is a self-sower like you would not believe. I'm now attempting to get some kind of control over it in the garden, while encouraging it in the yard...

You might also consider green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)...
The variety that I used to have in my previous garden was very well behaved... read: could barely be kept alive...
There's another variety that is rambunctious... plant it and watch it go! I have the second taking over... It's going to be moved into the yard... soon.

Also prunella vulgaris is a really nice turf alternative...

I would not plant vinca... I made that mistake once.

If you are willing to go with a bit of height, consider hellebore and celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)....
and spiderwort.