Out with the fenceposts, and in with some

ROCKS. Most of you wouldn't be surprised to hear I love a good rock -almost as much as I love Tree Aloes.  

*Please disregard the BRIGHT blue hose, it's a temporary sprinkler set-up for when I'm gone.  It will be 90's-100's for the next bit and it's an ugly necessity for some new plants. 

While I've been editing the plantings in the slope, I kept coming back to the same thought.  Rocks, it needs ROCKS.  Ivan and Sophia visited this past weekend.  He removed the fence posts and cement footings lickety-split!  I mean like 15 minutes and was done, I believe there were 7 left and they were very deep.  I thought he finished one and came in for water - they were all gone.  Again, thank you Ivan.  

I was mentioning to him about needing rocks, and it became obvious.  No time like the present - the back is free and clear at the moment.  No obstacles. 

The forklift is a big boy, 9' wide.  I try to keep my pathways about 3' but definitely skimp here and there on it.  First the biggest boulder is delivered, the driver was able to go down the fire lane right in front of the new house. 

And around to the back, top of the slope.  That open area to the back yard from the fire lane is about 23' wide.  A gate will be installed in a few weeks, with a 12' opening.  

The driver, from Cochran Landscape our local rock yard was great.  He asked which face of the rock should go which way. Placed it on the ground, and then pushed it forward with the prongs of the forklift.  

And a few more for fun.  These are small compared to the large boulder, but still too big for me to move. I was thrilled to have the forklift do the heavy lifting.  Oh, I was giddy. 

In the largest boulder, there are so many cool crevices and spots to grow things in.  I'll have to wait until mid September to have fun with this.  So plants can establish properly without frying to death. 

The last rock.

I went in for lunch on a total joy high.  And received a few deliveries... I felt lucky to find an online source for Australian grass trees, Xanthorrhoea preissii.  Tiny, yes but I've had a hard time finding them (at an affordable price) anywhere- Pan's Garden.

I put them in the shade house for the time being.  A kooky family of 5.  

Here is one I planted a few years back from Waltzing Matilija.  I order from Troy often, but no grass trees at the moment. This has grown faster than I expected, and I love the softness around prickly things.  

The day just kept giving.  I received my order from Starr Nursery. Recommended by the great Agave grower himself, Gerhard, Succulentsandmore blog. Pictured: Agave felgeri, Agave cerulata 'Goyo's Ghost', Agave dissimulans, Agave calciphila and a gift of Agave subsimplex!  Agave felgeri I'd like to try planting in the big boulder.  It's fairly small & offsets.  

In other news, there is still aggressive squirrelling going on. 

That is a fig in it's mouth.   Goodbye July, that was quick!