About

Hello and Welcome to My Yard Rocks!

This is a blog for people who love being outdoors, people who spend time in their yards, people who want to make their yards more enjoyable to relax, have fun, entertain and even work in, and for people who have outdoor spaces they already love and would like to share their stories.

My name is Diana Manning and spending time in and working on my yard is my passion. When we moved to our house over a decade ago, half the yard was paved over and the other half was a mini-jungle of brambles, briars and weeds. My husband and I cleared those brambles that first spring, and by the time we were done, I knew I’d be spending a lot of time, effort and yes, money, on our yard. Every year since then I’m outside as soon as the snow melts, cleaning up winter debris and walking the yard, deciding which new outdoor project to begin first.

 

My other passion is, well, rocks. And I don’t mean to say that I’ve studied geology. It’s just that I’ve been filling my pockets, handbags, backpacks and vehicles with rocks and stones that I thought were striking and attractive since I was a kid. Anyone who has ever been with me anywhere there were beautiful rocks and stones will attest to the fact that if there is any way possible for me to carry some home – I will. So don’t be surprised when you find that the content on this site leans heavily toward rock, stone, boulders and anything made of or built with such. Hence the name of the blog . . .

It was predictable, I suppose, for these two things that delight me to converge. Rocks and stone are part of the natural, outdoor environment, which is why they work so beautifully into the yardscapes, hardscapes and outdoor rooms that are being created by professional landscapers and do-it-yourselfers alike. The image that appears at the top of each page on this site is a small section of a dry creek bed that I built in my yard in the spring of 2010.

This site is dedicated to the understanding and creation of outdoor rooms and spaces. I will show you how to expand the place you call home to include your outdoor area, however large or small it may be.  My property includes a house, a barn and 4,700 square feet of outside space.  Within that space I have an outdoor kitchen, a sunning area next to an above-ground pool,  a covered living room and outdoor office, a manicured park-like area, and a stepping stone path that leads to my secret garden.  Here you’ll find a dry-creek bed, a table and chairs and a fire feature.  There is also an outdoor pet area and a potting room.  And all these spaces are either entirely separate from one another or they flow nicely from one area to the next.  It’s all about good use and creative separation of your outdoor space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will present ideas about outdoor living that include outdoor areas as tried and true as a good old fashioned porch to elements that make up the whole new concept of a staycation. In addition, I will review products and discuss issues that might influence many of the decisions we make in regard to our outdoor living spaces.

 

It is my hope that this blog attracts a community of people who appreciate spending time at home, free of the confines of their walls and ceilings. This site is in its infancy, so please check back frequently, as new content is being added on a regular basis.