Adventures in Landscaping

There are some beautiful things in my yard now.  The flower on the left is a majestic lily.  There is a whole row of them along the front walk. 

I am charmed every time I go outside.  Charmed and horrified.  The horrified part is that there is still quite a bit to go on this project which started in mid-May.

Each minor project that gets done begets two or three more. 

It started because we had a drought, and my front yard was sandy dirt with the occasional weed, and lots of ant hills.  a friend from work had some landscaping done by Keith and his crew, so he came and gave me a bid I could live with, and had quite a vision for what could be done with the yard.

It started expanding when we got the sprinkler system put in and he suggested that if we ran some PVC under the driveway, we could, at a later date (ha) develop the side lot and run the sprinklers there. 

As the work got going, they ran into huge and massive tree roots.  This is Florida, after all, and the land had never been developed.  Those had to be dug out manually.  They are also redoing the wood on the old flower-filled wagon in the front yard, and took down a fence dividing the front and the back, which had no real reason to exist.  I have discovered a fondness for purple foliage, and red flowers.

The biggest unexpected side project is the new well.  During the drought, my well ran dry and sucked up muck that clogged my water-to-air cooling system.  I had to have repairmen come and fix both, not an easy feat when you are the only one living at the house.  You know how these things work:  "We'll have a repairman there between 8 and 5 on Friday."

Imagine my chagrin when we got the sprinkler system hooked up and the spray was pretty anemic.  We installed an immersible pump, and in the process of installing it, the well failed again, and dredged up muck, and clogged up the air again.  To make a long story short, we decided (5 weeks ago) that the well needed to be replaced.  I had a choice between a modestly priced 3-inch rock well, and a much pricier artesian well.  After much thought, I decided on the artesian, which should provide wonderful, potable, plentiful water forever.  That will be pretty nice, because for the last few weeks, when I shower, the water dribbles out.  It takes twenty minutes to get hot water to the shower in the master bath, and the output isn't much, and I never seem to get all the conditioner out of my hair.  I don't have the patience.

I finally got the permit to dig the well;  that should start Monday, and involve large trucks running over my yard and digging holes.  I'll try to remember to take pictures.

Comments

[LC]

Thanks for another reminder about why we LOVE our condo! Hang in there...

[Landscaping Ojai]

I've being researching about Landscaping and reading your blog, I found your post very helpful :) . I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog!

[Air Jordans]

It's so lucky for me to find your blog! I am very glad. so I should leave some comments at your blog. I also love Landscaping. But my time is limiting. welcome you visit mine.