tz_garden

 Well I'm a little late, the deck was finished Thursday and I'm finally getting around to posting pictures today (Sunday).  I've purchased the wood slats to attach to the beams to create the lath (laugh) house- and a piece of douglas fir to attach to the top of the retaining wall, for pots and to set a glass of wine on.  But first, I need to get the roof on.   You can see better with this pic, there is a perfect spot to put a slab of wood across the top of the retaining wall. The stairs are nice and wide, I wasn't sure at first but they are "right".  Particularly since I asked for no hand railing.  There will be slats there on the left, I thought that would be fine. A nice area for planting what? something for privacy.  Not messy, fast growing, stays green year round.   My heart is set, that this Magnolia laevifolia 'Copperstop' be somewhere near the deck.  In the ground or in a pot I'm not sure. I think the beautiful rust color wil...

 I promised an update every day, so I'm doing it.  I feel now I could have covered the deck in one post or maybe two, haha.  Today the stair frame and lath house posts were added, as well as more decking. Thank you to  Anvil for naming the to be constructed shade house the "Laugh House".  Olivia came out to inspect with me, and convince me the stairs weren't too wide.  I think she's right, they are appropriate. The view from here is what started this whole thing, and I really need to take all the shade umbrellas down. Upper deck has begun, this is where the Laugh House will be, I had them cement 8' posts in each corner.   It main deck is just 14', but there were 3 of us up there today, and I think it will be pretty comfortable for 6-8 people. The Inspector.  A few aloes got bunged up today, which hurts.  I guess that's to be expected :( In other news,  Olivia has moved home for a bit after finishing up college and needed a bookshel...

 The retaining wall and dirt removal was so BIG yesterday, I don't know if these progress shots seem as much.  However,  a lot of work was done. The bottom deck is filling in.  Will be trimmed to match the edge of the concrete curve. The far end by the fence will have 4 steps that lead to the upper deck where we will attempt to put together shade or lath house.  The upper deck will be smaller, about 5 x 7.  This area gets morning sun, then is shaded by the cypress and Arbutus unedo for the remainder of the day. There is about 2' of planting space between the stairs and the fence.  ANY IDEAS?  I NEED PRIVACY in that area.  Honestly the nice neighbor on that side (that is her unattached garage which she doesn't use) doesn't go into her backyard at all.  I just want the feeling of green and to block the neighbor behind us.  Bamboo?  Cannomois grandis? Arundo donax?  PLEASE SHARE ANY IDEAS!!! Help! I'm being a littl...

Today the slope reno begins! Excavation of some of the soil and the deck build beginning.  This is too large of a project for me, so I have hired it out.  I've been SO excited for this!!! Talk began when Ivan started clearing the area of continus & yuccas.  Dreams of a shade house are coming true. PGE showed up yesterday to spray this quickly before the dig.  There isn't electric up there. These two gentleman have worked very hard today, they did take a short lunch break but then right back to it.  I hope they have a hearty dinner tonight.   When I got back from my morning run, they had dug out a good amount of soil & rock. I'm impressed, this is about 70 minutes of work! I was sad to see my Arbutus unedo a little brutalized :(. But, I do think it will be o.k.   I'd have liked to save a little of this dirt, it's good stuff!  But realistically I don't have anywhere to put it.  I went about my business, repotting some neglecte...