AT THE REQUESTOF SOME

    At the request of some of my friends and blog followers, I am going to peck out a few more entries to this blog.

    Since I stopped posting on a regular basis some time ago, there has been progress on our house and, more notably, our yard.  For close to 2 years I put down my power tools and picked up my shovel and mattock, rake and pitchfork.


Hardscape was added and our antique brick got new life as colums and a circular planter.

The only plant life worthy of salvaging were the azaleas, the magnificent Magnolias, 2 tremendous maples, an old pecan tree, a very large holly and, of course, the bamboo!

 
    Heavy equipment took out years of brush and weeds, and I designed some curves into the landscape to soften the squareness of the large patio/basketball court.

My daughter and I tote water to the garden behind the garage,
at least until we get the rainbarrels connected.

My son gifted me with yardwork last Mother's day. This included
digging out the original but long neglected pond in the back yard.

 All this happened 1 1/2 years ago.  I've been digging and planting ever since.  Good thing I love it so much!  We now have grass and loads of plantings.

There is more to come.  Keep an eye out for more recent photos and coments.

THIS GARDEN WAITS FOR NO MAN

    Given the contrary weather, the yard is not moving forward.  The whole domino effect has been unnerving.  In order for the remaining yard and driveway to move forward the pavers must be dry.  This way, once the yard is complete the contractor will not have to drive heavy equipment over the finished yard to complete the patio/basketball court portion of the job.

     Despite the wet and unusually cold weather we have had all fall and winter, we have had days here and there which have been delightfully pleasant.  I have decided that this garden shall wait for no man. (Except when the task requires more than my 2 hands then I am happy to wait briefly for my son or husband to lend me theirs).

     One sunny weekend, I built raise beds and a compost bin.

This bed is high enough for sitting comfortably on the ledge as you
plant, pick, weed, or just rest a while.

The bin is lined with wire and the front panel is removable to manage the pile with ease.

Last weekend, my 2 men lent their hands and muscle to the the task of digging holes, erecting, leveling, squaring, and cementing iron columns leading from one section of the yard to the future vegetable garden behind the garage.

I found the iron in a salvage yard, removed a little rust and painted the 3 sections flat black

These iron columns will provide support for wisteria I moved from Warren Road.

My bottle tree from Warren Road has found a new home on Hawthorne Ave.

                                                                                 

The bricks used here in the edging are the broken halves from the original house chimneys.

An old clothes line post gets a coat of magenta paint and awaits hops rhizomes

                                                             

Seedlings in peat pots sprout and wait for Frost's departure

COME ON SPRING!

A RENOVATION OF A DIFFERENT KIND

    To those of you who have been following our house progress you will note it has been numerous months since I have made a posting.  This is not to say I have been idle.  Since our Warren Road house sold last August, I have been enjoying our new home and all that it entails.
Let me attempt to catch you up in the next few postings.

Numerous weeks ago the yard renovation began!

Looking out my windows I saw all sorts of heavy equipment...

   

  

In addition to clearing the property of weeds and trash, the contractors are laying pavers between the garage and house for the future basketball court/entertaining area.

We were thrilled to have the yard work begin and RADA and Associates is doing a tremendous job.

If we just could get 7 or more consecutive days without rain or snow!!!! 

 In order to move forward the pavers must be dry.

 Just when they dry.....

Something like this happens.

The pavers are 100% dry today, but....rain is predicted for this afternoon and

more wet and perhaps frozen precipitation is due later this week.

Patience.

SUMMER'S BOUNTY

Cowhorn Peppers are plentiful in the back yard pot garden

It's time to do a little pickling here on Hawthorne Avenue

Dilly beans, pickled asparagus, Cauliflower and more...

Tomatoes rarely make it indoors.  A garden tomato fresh off the vine is OH SO SWEET!