Dirtbag Garden, and so it begins!
*I'm in the process of changing my Blogger layout. I've tried to change the Title font from that drippy cursive font forever, and blogger refuses to abide. Please forgive the awkward transition.
At 1:00 p.m. Friday, we received the news that the paperwork for the purchase of the home behind us was a done deal! At 1:01 p.m. I marched over to the new digs with a hammer. Keys were delivered later, at 5p.m. Before from our side.
I had the tune Break On Through (To the Other Side) by The Doors repeatedly running through my head.
It was SO hot, near 100°. I had a lot of conflicted feelings on the trees while I was demolishing the fence. Glad they were shading me, feeling bad about plans already set to remove them. 
Dr. Feelgood demonstrating where stairs will go.
I feel like an interloper up here on the other property. It definitely does not feel like "ours" yet. I kept checking from the fire lane, wondering how many fence panels I could take out without too much exposure. I stopped here. Vincent and I constructed a temporary fence from that little gray fence next to the house over to the taller fence. Plus he parked his car there -until we get something better. There is a fence around the rest of the house, so a gang or solo ruffian can't just wander in to our yard.
Here you can see the base of the pepper tree, it has a deep pocket of rot in the base of the trunk. It's leaning considerably and it's best to remove it. Not to mention the foot of crap it drops every week, it's insane. Now I just need to figure out what tree/trees would work here?
Have an excellent weekend! Any recommendations on trees? I'd l💛ve to do one or 3 Leucadendron argenteum, silver tree. But given their dramatics with sudden death I don't want to risk it. Eucalyptus could be in the running though.
That is exciting news! Will you be moving into the other house? Either way, I take it you will have more garden space! I fantasize often about buying neighbor's houses. Good luck on the blog format. I absolutely hate Blogger and wish that I had tried another venue, although I guess the alternatives would require a payment. :(
ReplyDeleteWe plan on staying in our current house. This other house is in poor condition, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity. Not likely to happen again! It was exactly that, a dream to buy the property behind. You have a good point, I shouldn't complain about Blogger since it's free, ha ha.
DeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm sure you were a nervous wreck but you worked amazingly fast. Don't wear yourself out when you're're just getting started ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kris! It was fast, they pushed the close date forward by a week, so we were scrambling a bit. It's been SO dang hot the past 2 days I've had to take breaks. Today I pulled weeds over there, but limited the time spent in the direct sun.
DeleteI wondered if your relative absence from blogging meant you were busy breaking down fences, yay! Congratulations. I can't wait to see what you do with all that space AND I can't wait to visit again someday. Meanwhile... I love your new Corten planters.
ReplyDeleteThank you Loree :D. You are welcome any day of the week! Hopefully we will have a guest house at some point for visits. You definitely inspired the fence planting upgrade. It BAKES there, so I had to work with the sun.
DeleteYou will be kept busy for a long time.
ReplyDeleteThat is true ;).
DeleteThis really is exciting! I shall enjoy reading your progress!
ReplyDeleteI love the wall planters. Wow.
We've had rain all day. Not nearly as hot. Not that we get heat like yours.
Thank you Jenn! Thankfully we are cooling to 90, I know that doesn't sound like much but I'll take it. Ah, rain.
DeleteCongrats on the new look of your blog. I like it!
ReplyDeleteI don't have tree advice, except to say that if leaf litter is an issue, Eucalyptus trees make substantial messes too (though it smells amazing). I hope you get good advice on what to select. Your palm trees seem happy and healthy... why not have a few more of those to start.
The corten planters are fabulous: what a great find!
Chavli
Ok, I'll admit I didn't think about the litter - you're totally right. I love the idea of Bismarckia or Brahea palm. Thanks Chavli!
DeleteOh, I know what you mean about Blogger not cooperating sometimes...and then other times it seems like a decent platform. 100 is hot--I love the heat, but I'm talking 80-85. Of course we generally have more humidity, so maybe it comes close. Still, for working in the garden, 75 and low humidity is the best. I'm so enjoying your garden designs and adventures. Don't work too hard and fast with your new property (especially in the heat), but thanks for sharing the opportunity and the progress!
ReplyDeleteI agree, humidity makes it feel so much warmer. I'm delighted we have cooled from the triple digits - that's just too hot. Thank you Beth!
DeleteEucalyptus trees around here are notorious for falling down or losing huge branches. Usually on parked cars. All of my favorite trees make a huge mess. My advice comes with a 98% chance of making things worse. Congratulations on the new digs, literal digs.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's true. Our neighborhood is called "The Grove" as there is an old stand of Eucalyptus at the front. They are serviced every week, for safety & mess. I've crossed it off the list, even though I do think they are gorgeous.
Deletenice post..ro plant in madurai
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your new playground, Tracy! Glad the lily survived and I love that Doors tune.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I like that ... new playground! TY!
DeleteBlogger apparently ate my earlier comment. Anyway, this is so exciting, I'm so happy for you. I must visit soon!
ReplyDeleteLikewise Gerhard! And thank you so much!
DeleteYou could put a door in the fence if you're worried about security. What will you do with the new house? AirBNB?
ReplyDeleteWe're not sure. It will be a couple years before we can do any major build. So for a while it will sit.
DeleteIt took me a minute to realize that you'd purchased the home behind you. Until then, I thought you were becoming unhinged in the best possible way!
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha, Jeff this made laugh!
DeleteHi, this is going to be fun. I am excited to see and hear all about what you do with the property.
ReplyDelete:-)
Thank you Carla. I'm all over the place with ideas.
DeleteCongratulations on completion of your new propery and extra land. How will you get rid of the tree stump once you cut it down? Do you drill the base and put something down it.
ReplyDeleteI love the lily! What a beaut. I am pleased it escaped the great demolition!
Thank you Carole! I'm told that their "stump grinder guy" will tag along with the tree removal company. I have to negotiate with him for the stump grinding cost. So it's a see what happens kind of thing.
DeleteI don't envy you changing the layout in Blogger. I need to ... loonnnggg overdue. But I'd much rather produce content :) Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit to trying the themes provided, there seemed to be something about each one I didn't care for. Oh well!
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