Yeah, we’re those neighbors — the ones so focused on indoor projects (and baby-wrangling) that the yard gets neglected. Here’s the weed convention taking place under our mailbox:
And who’s that peeking out of the overgrown chaos?
It’s a little iron squirrel the previous owners left behind. I adore him — I even pet him sometimes. His name is Norman.
The first step in our mailbox makeover was obvious: weed. For the first time in about six months, we actually pulled everything out. Other than a mom-assisted weeding session, we hadn’t touched it since moving in.
I used a bucket and filled it five times with the weeds and random growth around the mailbox post:
Next, we laid down landscaping fabric to discourage weed regrowth — since regular weeding isn’t exactly our strength — and bought two inexpensive pots of fast-growing, all-summer-blooming petunias from Lowe’s. Petunias tend to spread outward and get fairly large, so we figured two pots would fill the area nicely without needing countless plants.
We cut small X-shaped openings in the fabric and planted the petunias so their roots could spread beneath it, while limiting other weeds from poking through.
After planting, we added a thin layer of topsoil and a generous layer of mulch to retain moisture and tidy the area. We can’t wait to watch the petunias fill in and bloom across the mulched bed.
That gray patch on the side of the post in the photo is where our house numbers were; I edited them for privacy. The blank, stop-sign-shaped area is our alarm sign, which I also obscured in the photo. Our alarm company advised us not to share their name online for security reasons, and we agreed — better safe than sorry. They take security seriously, so we respected that request.
Originally there were three small signs cluttering the mailbox — an old electric fence sign and two alarm signs mounted on the mailbox arm. We decided to remove the excess signs and put a single alarm sign at the base of the post facing the street. Here I am after taking down the alarm signs and beginning to remove the electric fence sign:
I added a little “modesty heart” to the photo, but the real surprise was revealed when we removed the signs:
Hidden behind the signs was a wasp or hornet nest. Yikes. I left it alone at first and fortunately the wasp didn’t bother me. We planned to remove it that evening carefully and naturally.
Update: That evening the nest appeared unattended, so I layered on protective clothing and used a long yardstick to knock the nest down from a distance. Nothing flew out, so it was either empty or the occupant was away. I stomped the nest a few times to be sure. It’s gone now — and I’m feeling pretty tough. If the wasp returns, I’ll report back, but losing the cover from the missing signs should help deter a return.
After hanging a single alarm sign at the base of the post facing the road, the mailbox looked much cleaner. Someday I might spray it with oil-rubbed bronze paint for a refreshed shine and maybe give the post a glossy coat too. The little birdhouse on the back of the post is home to a sweet family of birds who flutter out whenever we get the mail — it’s adorable.
Norman, the iron squirrel, stuck around and seems to approve of the fresh mulch and blooming petunias:
So while we didn’t transform the whole block, the quick upgrade was a big improvement from the previous embarrassment:
Any quick yard projects happening on your end? Have you tried landscaping fabric beyond patio use? Found a charming faux woodland creature and fallen for it? Or come face-to-face with a bee or hornet nest? Share your stories.