Consumable(d)

Last week I finally buckled down and had the stucco wall for the herb/vegetable garden built. We were able to tie into the front yard system. Luckily our stucco guy was willing to dig up some pavers and drill a hole under the block for the gate. Then he laid the pvc pipe and buttoned everything up.

We waterproofed the house and the stucco with some thick, gooey paint. The rock you see is what I hauled from what used to be under the shed to the front yard and we were slowly getting rid of it. But then I realized that I didn't have enough dirt to fill it up, so I had to shovel and haul the rock back to the backyard. They don't call it back breaking labor for nuthin'!

Since Michael wanted nothing to do with this part, I designed my little bubbler system and slopped it together like so.

It's deceivingly a lot of work. It makes me tired just talking about it. Currently it has 4 more wheel barrels full of actual dirt. I figure I have at least 8+ more to go to fill it up. I know for sure I'm planting basil, sweet basil, rosemary, tomatoes, and possibly squash. Any other suggestions? I've never had a garden before and I'm SO excited.

I also planted a Mediterranean palm tree. I've always wanted a palm tree for as long as we've been living in this house (5 1/2 yrs). In the center there is a blue hibiscus and to the right is some grass thing that blooms these cool blue-purplish flowers. I forget what it's called. Liritrope, lithitrope? Something like that, I guess. We also put down sod mix dirt. I think Michael counted 20 wheel barrels.

That little twig is an ash tree. It looks like it's on its deathbed because it's in shock from transplant. I think it's going to make it though. We are really trying hard to keep it alive. We also had the paver border done and we hauled in rock (more back breaking labor), exactly the kind you see off the freeway. It's pinkish but I was hoping to buy something a little redder. Oh well. Anything is better than what it was before.....

Don't you remember?

We are STILL waiting to put in sod. I've checked the nursery a million times since March but they kept telling me that summer sod wasn't going to be out, "'til end of April early May." So here we are first full week of May and I was so excited and they said, "no sod for another two weeks." Come, again?

Seriously??? Plant seed you cry? Well I would if we didn't already compact down all the dirt walking on it. If I would have known sod wasn't going to be here then we would have done things differently. So I'm just deciding to wait and crossing my fingers it will be ready in two weeks.

I have a few more plants to plant and a citrus tree I'm toying with... called a fruit cocktail! Doesn't that sound delicious? Grapefruit, lemon, and orange all in one tree. But there's no room in the backyard right now so we're thinking either sideyard or front yard.

Now we are in the home stretch... yay! Last weekend Michael turns to me and says, "Now we're going to have to do something with the front yard." And then I fainted. Just kidding I didn't faint. But was close. Why? Because we have ripped out every last bush and now we only water weeds. And also a little discouraging because the front yard is twice the size of the back yard.