I should probably finish the story of my working for the US Postal Service before I forget all the icky details, but really don't feel like delving into it just yet. Sorry for the unintended cliff-hanger!
Instead, I would like to share that we're in the process of having our front and backyards turned into something a bit greener, a bit grander. We're not rolling in dough yet we wanted to update the property in some small (pocketbook-wise) way. We figured that a kitchen re-do would be more costly than a landscaping project--we might actually have been wrong about that now that we are in the thick of it--so we opted for sprucing up our wee plot. Our front yard, along with those of most all of the homes in the neighborhood, was paved over during the last great drought in the early 1970s. What were once neatly manicured lawns are now largely 'extra parking' in the form of concrete slabs. We've had the aggregate concrete (think: cement mixed with pebbles) torn up and mostly hauled away retaining chunks of it to use in making a small wall at the front of the property and a funky footpath from garage-way to front door. In its stead, we've had mostly native plants put in like yarrow, lupine and coastal sage. The wee tree seen in a shot of the garden below is a California Buckeye.
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| Circa 1940s Sunset District 'row house' replete with tidy lawn. |
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| Native plant garden at the front of our digs. |
The wee wall dividing our garden from the public sidewalk has a bit of Brutalist vibe, but I like it. -keeps the cigarette butts from our ever-smoking neighbors across the way at Party House from blowing up into the garden, so there's that.
It is looking good and much more welcoming than concrete slabs.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's much more welcoming than the slabs. :)
DeleteNice..and gives rainwater a chance to soak in instead of running straight off
ReplyDeleteExactly this. I wish more folks in the area would take out their concrete, but I realise it's an expense some cannot afford.
DeleteLooks great! I like the foot path in particular.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra! Yes, the footpath is fun.
DeleteI like how that turned out.
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteWhat a lot of labor you have put into this attractive and sustainable landscape. Now for the back yard!
ReplyDeleteAnd a lot of cashola! :D I'm glad we've started the process and I'm looking forward to the finished product, lemme tell ya.
DeleteVery sculptural plants. I like them.
ReplyDeleteWe let them "grow out" and lose that sort of more chiseled look, but I did like the look of them as well.
DeleteA really nice upgrade to your front space!
ReplyDeleteComing from you, that's so nice to read. :)
DeleteI love it and it looks great. I can't wait to see how the backyard turns out, Bea.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mr. Shife!
DeleteLooks great. I like a front garden. Too many round here are filling theirs in to make parking spaces. Make the street look like a car park. Vandalism.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tasker! It's been so fun to be able to spend time out front amongst the plants.
DeleteLooks great. Sorry you have to deal with cigarette issue, that would certainly annoy me. Hope your wall works.
ReplyDeleteSandy's Space
The wee wall works as a cig butt barrier very well!
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