Step One of the Layered Look

I actually hurried through my morning walk to get at the back yard. Nothing like a new project to get the muscles moving through the mandatory tasks.



While I still had energy I ebony-stained the sides of the raised beds and moved the rocks from their temporary storage place back around the center bed. A large dollop of cedar mulch made the birds ecstatic. As far as I could see all they wanted to do was tear it out of the beds and strew it on the bricks.



Now I'm waiting for another burst of energy. if it doesn't happen I'll fasten myself to the porch swing and read.

What's not to like about this kind of summer day?

Fifty Bricks Short

That's what we are--fifty bricks short before the back garden project is done.

There's some cutting and shaping to be done around the edges with tht extra fifty and that will happen in a couple of weeks after my team returns from their next project, which just happens to be at the home of my very own daughter, who lives in another town.

I ran out of excuses to weed so I made a good start today. The rain clouds hovered overhead but saved their baggage for another time.



A heavy coat of bricks dust envelops everything; I really think, god help me, that another dollop of rain is needed to wash it away.

White-haired blue bunny peers over the raised bed, wondering if it's safe to come out and play.

Another fifty bricks worth, buddy.

Then it's safe.

A Slow Metamorphosis

The yard is slowly evolving from the dream I've had tucked in my subconscious for some time.

At the start of the week and between rainfalls two strong men men arrived to level the ground and then raked on two tons of crushed stone which they tamped down with a machine.


This picture is taken from the same area, the deck. You can see a bit of the fish pond at the left.


Below is the view from my bedroom window. Now you can see what a tiny property it is. When the bricks are set in we'll see whether I met my goal of refining and simplifying my little patch of paradise.

The brick man is due sometime today and tomorrow if the rain will behave, I'll at least have the start of act three.

Is This a Cute Kid or What?

There isn't any particular reason to add these pictures today except that this is my absolutely adorable great-grandchild and he's at the petting zoo for the first time.



So just feast your eyes and smile.

Honeysuckle In Bloom

These are my favorites of them all.
This season all the gardern blooms burst out full of exuberance then quickly fade away.
It's a strange season full of clouds, monsoons and occasional oven-like temperatures and I love every minute of it.
What a luxury to walk out the door without pausing to bundle into snow jacket and boots. Heaven it what it is.
There is a rumor that the workmen might appear this Monday to lay out my brick pathways.
Stay tuned.

At Last--A touch Of Summer

The tulips came and went with a blink of an eye. and this one was gorgeous while it lasted, peeking out from neighboring leaves.



I am still in love with Lupines because aside from spotty weeding they're on their own and they flourish.

It's extremely hot today--a grand excuse to ignore household tasks and laze on the porch swing with a book.

I'd Better Get A Plan

I'm slowly working my way toward a brick-paved back garden, with not a blade of grass to be seen.
What with the monsoons and all things haven't progressed.

We had the abortive start seen above,getting a start at laying bricks but that plan wasn't well thought out on my part so we start again.
As soon as I find more bricks.

The scene below is taken from the deck and right now it's a hazardous course for my less than nimble feet.

However, I cling to my dream and soon this will be a thing of beauty.





I stumble over these humps several times a day, revelling in what it will soon become.



This center area was initially a raised bed to hold my squash and pumpkin and now the plan is to fill it with flowering shrubs, as the centerpiece.

I imagine the family eventually following me into this place--tearing it all out to make room for a swing set.

That's life.

In the meantime, I'm having fun.