I enjoy seeing 'before and afters'. You've shown me yours, and now, I'm showing you mine.
The process was fascinating and worth getting up at such an early hour (Early for me, since my usual bedtime is around four am). I didn't get up because the noise bothered me, but because I couldn't stand to miss something.
As you saw in the last post, the lawn was removed and the reusable rocks were gathered onto landscape fabric. Plants that would be replanted were put in pots.
My precious tree was pulled out. This I did not watch. The tree was a volunteer that I could see when I was at my kitchen sink. Birds loved it and it was sad to see them come back, sit on the fence and look quizzically in the direction of where the tree had been.
Also, on the same note, I watched the lizard that lived in the rock wall in back frantically scurrying around after his home had been disassembled. Yesterday I woke up to a bird in our living room, later in the afternoon we caught a cricket inside the house, and last night we chased a tiny mouse, without catching it, all over the house. We believe all this is happening as a result of the destruction of their homes and of our doors having been opened so often the past two and a half weeks.
And then the potty was delivered!
An area for the patio is graded and the foundation for a section of it is painstakingly built up.
At the same time the rock retaining wall along the golf course is deconstructed, graded, landscape fabric laid and the rock wall reconstructed. It was a weeding nightmare without the fabric. Plus, gophers were having a party with the lizard there.
The pavers are laid making the porch wider and more usable. Monday a handyman is coming over to start work on putting a sliding patio door in where the window visible in the picture is. Then we will have better access to our more usable porch and new patio.
The dry creek bed is shaped. The boulders are carefully maneuvered into place with difficulty and my guidance. Then it is filled in with river rocks. I spent some time after the workers left and on the weekends rearranging rocks so they look more natural and will continue to do so.
At the same time the rock retaining wall along the golf course is deconstructed, graded, landscape fabric laid and the rock wall reconstructed. It was a weeding nightmare without the fabric. Plus, gophers were having a party with the lizard there.
The pavers are laid making the porch wider and more usable. Monday a handyman is coming over to start work on putting a sliding patio door in where the window visible in the picture is. Then we will have better access to our more usable porch and new patio.
The dry creek bed is shaped. The boulders are carefully maneuvered into place with difficulty and my guidance. Then it is filled in with river rocks. I spent some time after the workers left and on the weekends rearranging rocks so they look more natural and will continue to do so.
A Red Sunset Maple and a small broom are planted.
A white, fragrant Lemoine lilac and yellow daylilies are planted beside a couple of dinasaur eggs.
The back is complete.
Our lavender lilac is replanted to the opposite side of the porch to screen the porch and a mugo pine is planted to screen the neighbors utility boxes.
Hostas are planted in the continually shaded area under the front entry because I love them!
Hostas are planted in the continually shady area under the front entry because I love them.
A juniper and some lambs ears are added to the front plantings and then the small river rocks. And then, TA DAH!!
The landscape project is completed. The landscapers think there should be more plants in the front. I have always been a rock freak and like the serenity of the expanse of all the rocks. I also, don't want to obscure the view or use more water. After all, we live in the desert.
That's great that you didn't plant grass, which is not natural in the desert. Looks great.
ReplyDeleteAnd you can always plant more, you want. We will have a little grass in the front of our new house, but I am already planning on planting low water shrubs and tall wild grasses. Why grass in the front? No body uses it like that.
ReplyDeleteI like your pavers. did it cost a lot, can I ask? We are trying to decide what to do. I think a wood deck may be less money.
:)
meno-We struggled with the front lawn and the sprinkler system since moving in 4 1/2 years ago. Adios. We have a new upgraded drip system too and won't miss the lawn.
ReplyDeleteamber-We were shocked at how much it all cost! We got estimates from five landscape companies and they were all pretty close. We went with the company that we felt understood our vision best. Being artistic, I had drawn up plans, taken pictures of landscapes I liked just driving around and had pictures I'd cut out of magazines and had been collecting since we moved in here.
Anyway, pavers are expensive. There are many clever techniques that are done on concrete now, which are less expensive. Wood is nice, but will need to be replaced in time. You can get free estimates from most landscapers. So, many things to think about with new construction. Hope you're enjoying the process. Would love to help if I lived near by.
I think it looks very good. I also think that one should work with the climate and what's natural for the area, or else it's always a struggle to keep things alive. Far better to be kind to the plants and put them in places where they get some shade.
ReplyDelete