“And suddenly you just know it's time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings” -  Meister Eckhart

If you could do it all over again, what would you change? Would you formulate a plan and stick to it meticulously? Would you study more, research better? Would you be more relaxed and let things develop organically? Or, would you keep everything the same?

My husband and I could respond to these questions, in terms of our backyard. When we bought our home, in 2002, the backyard boasted a ginormous pool. Our four kids ranged in ages from 9 to 15 and were thrilled with the idea of swimming all summer long. The pool was used heavily and enjoyed by all of us. We spent birthdays, holidays, and graduations in the pool, and the kids delighted in having their friends over for pool parties.

Then, the kids eventually moved out, and we found ourselves using the pool less. It is so large that it takes up 75 percent of the usable space in our yard. Instead of enjoying the pool, we started to resent the space it took up, imagining alternative uses which we would appreciate more as empty nesters. We talked about removing the pool for years but balked at the cost estimates we received. As we vacillated about what to do with the pool, it slowly deteriorated; a tile falling off here, a crack appearing there. We were finally left with two choices: 1) spend a lot of money to repair and modernize the pool, or 2) spend a lot of money to remove the pool and surrounding concrete decking. We chose option #2.

The contractor will be here on Monday, to begin the demolition and removal of the pool and decking. When his work is completed, we will gain 2,200 square feet of space in our backyard. The prospect of what to do with that space is as exciting as it is daunting. I have spent so many years being restricted to a two-foot planting strip around the perimeter of my backyard, that it's hard to conceive of the freedom we will now have. I want to establish all the features I've always wanted in the yard: an expansion of my small rose garden, a water feature (koi pond? fountain?), dedicated space for growing vegetables, lots of pollinator-attracting perennials, two fruit trees (apricot and plum), outdoor “rooms” with different themes, lovely seating areas where we can enjoy the garden, space for my husband's favorite annual crop, a greenhouse, a tool shed (greenhouse-tool shed combo?), and a grassy area for my dog.

However, when I put pencil to paper to draw my plans with any semblance of scale, the yard begins to shrink. I will not be able to include everything on my wish list, so the process of prioritizing has begun. I will probably have to wait until the yard is converted to bare dirt before space makes sense to me. I will bring my lawn furniture back out from where it is being stored during construction, and sit in different spots throughout the yard, to get a feel for space.

Pool removal has already created a lot of work for us. We've let our lawns die in order to harden the soil and avoid deep crevices caused by heavy equipment; removed sprinkler heads and electrical conduit; pulled out my beautiful pollinator garden in the front yard; torn down the trellis holding up the Lady Bank's Rose (Rosa banksiae) and the fence behind it; dug up the climbing and hybrid tea roses on the other side of the fence; moved all patio furniture, yard art, and potted plants; and drained the pool. We have a lot more work ahead of us, both in the restoration of the front yard and design and implementation of our new “dream” backyard. But, what better time to accomplish this formidable task? We are not going to be traveling for the foreseeable future. We might as well make our backyard a stay-at-home vacation destination.