stairs finis!

 I don't like starting off with an ugly photo, so I won't. Just now, from my morning walk around.  I've got plenty of areas that look like crap, but the morning sun on the slope here gave me a jolt of autumn joy!

We've got another week of mid to high 70's in the forecast.  I'm moving things around in case of a harsh el nino winter.  I'm overreacting as per usual.  In my defense, here are a few photos from 2017,  that year we received a whopping 25" of rain!  In comparison we received 12" this past year, 81% of normal 15".  This is the very far back corner of the garden, to the left the "slope" and I'm facing the fence that divides our garden and the fire lane.  To be fair, this was grass then and the first area that would get soggy.  Still this was SHOCKING. 

Afterall, 25" in a year is not THAT much.  We had moved from Portland, OR where the average rainfall is 36-43" per year. Miami, FL gets 67".  The ground couldn't handle it, there are pockets of clay in this area.  After this, I got serious about creating berms or mounds for good drainage.  

Now I've turned to face the old back fence that used to divide our property and the new property. *Duck cage to the left, they were OVERJOYED with the flooding.  Happy little webbed feet splashing and some serious happy quacking.  Their elation over water you had to see to believe.

Adolescent ducks, still in the circus tent in the garage to keep them warm and safe.

And a few months older, moved into their outside home. In no time, they had that grass GONE.  

Ok, ok back to the stairs!  From earlier this year, before we knew we'd be buying the property behind that black fence. I had removed a bunch of golden barrel cactus - in the winter the slope was completely shaded from the fence.  A few of the barrel cacti had rotted, and although I didn't know where I would plant them, I got the rest outta there.  I was still deciding really what would go in this area.

Then the whole takeover happened. Fast forward to the fence gone.  Chipped in dirt stairs.

As you know, Ivan stepped in and corrected my "missteps". He got the bottom stairs in and I tackled the top stairs.

Adding 3/8" rock next to the risers for better drainage, as Ivan suggested. I was careful not to leave any 3/8" rock exposed, as that is slippery underfoot.

Digging was the most difficult, there are lots of old palm tree roots in there. I snuck in some Raoulia australis in a few spots.  Hopefully they will take off and fill in.

And other cuttings got poked in.  

Finished with gold fines. Certainly not perfect, but I'm happy with it.  Those two tall trees are actually on the OTHER side of the house, how strange they appear so close. 

Here I stepped closer. With the fence gone, there is considerably more light.  The plants that were really stretching for sun have now begun straightening up.  As you can see the bright green tie, I did give the Leucadendron argenteum, Silver tree a little help. 

And that's a wrap. Cheers to a great week!

💚