Well, first, let me say "hat's off!" to Tracey of Helana and Ali who pointed us in the right direction on the gray. It's not as dark as she suggested in this blog post, or as dark as we could have gone, perhaps.

But we think it's a huge improvement over the green, and we're pretty happy with it.

The green was feeling a little too baseball-y and clashy with all the other greens going on. I guess it is possible to clash in nature. But the gray (Dark Slate Solid Stain by Cabot) provides such a lovely contrast.

It frames the yard and the plants beautifully. This little picket fence will soon be getting its own Dark Slate treatment.

Neel's been working his butt off, and things are shaping up beautifully.