Monday, November 21, 2011

Beginning of a garden

IMG_3526 So, I had some help yesterday removing concrete bits and leveling the backyard topography. The goal is to put pea gravel in the path and "conversation areas," and then start planting beds in spring when I have a better idea of light and seasons at this house. My sister and I used some materials leftover from construction to make a winter veggie bed; it is a comfort to have some green in the dirt pit. And just to get a good idea of the starting point, here's a before shot of the concrete yard at the beginning of the remodel. IMG_3208 And after the Bobcat came through and foundation digging of the back apartment had started. P1020431_sm And that same area now IMG_3531 The bricks are from a planter box that ran along the edge of the concrete and iron rail fence, next to the old staircase. I don't know why, but I love the D'Hanis bricks. IMG_3528 IMG_3529 Where the bricks end here, there's going to be a terraced level (necessitated in part by the fact that a strip of concrete still runs across there...plus, I've always wanted a terraced effect in the garden). IMG_3532 And here's some inspiration from Big Red Sun, a stop on this past weekend's East Side Studio Tour. The pea gravel is what's going into the hardscape areas. But I'm also weirdly attracted to their artificial lawn...who knew? Maybe it's the softness underfoot, maybe it's the possibility of going into stage 3 watering restrictions next year. IMG_1072 IMG_1070 IMG_1071 And I think this might work to shade the parking area next summer...or maybe it's too tough looking. IMG_1074 Anyway, I'm enjoying looking at other yards for inspiration and slowly building my garden plan. And if we can get a few more good rains like the storm early this morning, that would be a cold season gift.

2 comments:

Linda/patchwork said...

You've done a lot of work. Can't wait to see the final results....although, I don't think gardens are ever really 'done'. There's always something else we think of to do.
I saw some of that new artificial turf at the Longhorn game the other night. Even up close, it looks pretty real.

Amy Farrier said...

I agree, gardens are always evolving. Thank goodness! How would we try out all the plants we want to otherwise?