While I was away on a whirlwind visit to see a friend, John decided to redo our picket fence (aka, the playpen) in the front yard! We still have to paint it, but for just over a days work later, we have a wonderful, soundly built fence! Special thank you to John's dad, Mike for helping with the project and to Cathy for being on Jack watch.
Some of the fence was still good to go. Almost all of the posts we're kept, but most of the pickets and horizontal supports were replaced.
The only issue with the plan is that the plants are predominantly green most of the year...with our green house, green lawn and green tree. So still looking into either some small planters to place on top of the brick mini pillars, although they seem like they'd be begging Jack to knock them over, some hanging plants to add some color, or planting a small flowers throughout the area until the new plants are larger. Ideas?