Heartland Treasures

Heartland Treasures in Exeter, CA

Craftsman Home being used as an Antiques and Collectibles shop and residence. When I bought this home I wanted to create a English garden appearance for the Antique shop. I wanted lots of flowers and a sortof wild unkempt look with not a lot of care needed other than watering. I haven't got the pics in order but you can look thru and see before pics and then when we widened the walkway and put in the fence. Next we added pots and the wishing well and bench. There are photos of each step of the way to the final, wild beautiful results. Sorry they aren't in order, I will try to figure that one out next!!

Welcome to Heartland Treasures. This was a 1920 Craftsman home that had been owned by a woman living alone and unable to care for it in her illness. We bought it after she passed. There were trees and grass and the first thing we did was just trim it up to see what we had. 
Sadly, we have closed the store this year and turned the home into a rental. We are operating Heartland Treasures on ebay. Someday we may retire here in Exeter and move back to the home as it is in the center of town and across the street from a high school. It is a nice corner lot with a large back yard, koi pond and swimming pool.

1 of 30: Welcome to Heartland Treasures. This was a 1920 Craftsman home that had been owned by a woman living alone and unable to care for it in her illness. We bought it after she passed. There were trees and grass and the first thing we did was just trim it up to see what we had. Sadly, we have closed the store this year and turned the home into a rental. We are operating Heartland Treasures on ebay. Someday we may retire here in Exeter and move back to the home as it is in the center of town and across the street from a high school. It is a nice corner lot with a large back yard, koi pond and swimming pool.

The house had a grass yard with some trees. The walkway was narrow and tough to navigate

2 of 30: The house had a grass yard with some trees. The walkway was narrow and tough to navigate

The porch was a selling factor for sure but it was steep

3 of 30: The porch was a selling factor for sure but it was steep

Side yard was just grass

4 of 30: Side yard was just grass

a few plants under the window

5 of 30: a few plants under the window

Nice effect going up the steps after we trimmed up the yard

6 of 30: Nice effect going up the steps after we trimmed up the yard

After trimming

7 of 30: After trimming

Some old planters that had been ignored for months as prior owner had died

8 of 30: Some old planters that had been ignored for months as prior owner had died

A view of the palm tree in front

9 of 30: A view of the palm tree in front

The narrow walkway

10 of 30: The narrow walkway

Found some stepping stones that almost looked like hearts. I painted them green with concrete paint.

11 of 30: Found some stepping stones that almost looked like hearts. I painted them green with concrete paint.

We put a wood awning over the window to protect the items inside from the direct sun.

12 of 30: We put a wood awning over the window to protect the items inside from the direct sun.

Our wishing well was added. We put it on a concrete square we poured to keep it level. I found this online from an Amish community and they ship it out and you put it together

13 of 30: Our wishing well was added. We put it on a concrete square we poured to keep it level. I found this online from an Amish community and they ship it out and you put it together

Put in fencing and started rose planting

14 of 30: Put in fencing and started rose planting

I found this bench at Big Lots and had the sign made to go on it. I made the cushion as I couldn't find one the right size. Later I wished I had used vinyl as it got wet with the sprinklers and eventually turned green with moss.

15 of 30: I found this bench at Big Lots and had the sign made to go on it. I made the cushion as I couldn't find one the right size. Later I wished I had used vinyl as it got wet with the sprinklers and eventually turned green with moss.

More stepping stones

16 of 30: More stepping stones

Purchased 1/2 barrels to plant along new wide walkway.

17 of 30: Purchased 1/2 barrels to plant along new wide walkway.

We put in a lamp post on a small concrete base with auto dusk to dawn feature. Lamp came from Costco.

18 of 30: We put in a lamp post on a small concrete base with auto dusk to dawn feature. Lamp came from Costco.

I found this little gate and entry rod iron and spray painted it to match the rest of the decor. I used some fake ivy to get it started. The arch and gate were also at Big Lots.

19 of 30: I found this little gate and entry rod iron and spray painted it to match the rest of the decor. I used some fake ivy to get it started. The arch and gate were also at Big Lots.

Starting to all come together

20 of 30: Starting to all come together

From the porch checking out our new widened walkway and fence

21 of 30: From the porch checking out our new widened walkway and fence

close up of bench and sign looking toward street.

22 of 30: close up of bench and sign looking toward street.

More stepping stones. these are on the side that the lamp will go on and lead to the hose area behind the bushes under the window.

23 of 30: More stepping stones. these are on the side that the lamp will go on and lead to the hose area behind the bushes under the window.

The front area we added geraniums and crepe myrtle trees in barrels along the sidewalk

24 of 30: The front area we added geraniums and crepe myrtle trees in barrels along the sidewalk

On the side we used some redwoods and large old iron wheels instead of a fence

25 of 30: On the side we used some redwoods and large old iron wheels instead of a fence

another view of the new plants and flowers coming up

26 of 30: another view of the new plants and flowers coming up

The redwoods are starting to grow. this is a few months after the last picture.

27 of 30: The redwoods are starting to grow. this is a few months after the last picture.

Opps this is before the new fence

28 of 30: Opps this is before the new fence

another view

29 of 30: another view

The fence and the day of the grand opening early August

30 of 30: The fence and the day of the grand opening early August

Comments / Questions

Wow,what a change! I love the fence and the heart stepping stones.

What a nice looking garden.

I live in Exeter and often admire your yard in person! Love it.

Hi, and welcome. I am not a gardner, and had very little experience with planting, but I always loved flowers and I was totally inspired by my sister's beautiful grounds at her home in Santa Cruz. When we bought the old corner house to move our antiques shop to I knew I needed a special yard to attract visitors. I had to keep costs down and produce a low maintainance yard that stood out. Check it out, I ended up with my own personal mini forest.

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