Reflecting back on 2014 and looking forward - Happy 2015!

Looking backward and forward

2014 has been a year of big changes. We are already planning the changes for 2015 and 2016. They are going to be fun!

 Despite the freezing temps (it was 21 degrees last night), I was working on extending the bark path to the circle planter.  It also seems that my adventure with sod and grass transplants has not turned out as well as I has hoped.  One portion of the sod has sunk rather badly (this is likely because it is over an area of pond fill) and the section of transplants has just not taken. Instead we are planning to take it out and put in a colored stone design mixed with walkables like scotch moss.  This weekend I'm going out with the ladder to take photos then transfer to tracing paper and start laying out the patterns. 

These are designs called PEBBLE MOSAICS.  I'm not going to go this fancy since it requires mortar but aren't they lovely? They are great inspiration!

This year should see the addition of trees and bushes to the backyard as well as some type of fruit - perhaps grapes or even Hardy Kiwi?
  

We are also going to put in a green house to the west and south of the water barrels. This means moving the raised beds (and soil) and enlarging the area currently designated as the primary garden area (this area is currently having the soil prepped.)

I love this house!  But I'm also interested in building one with what is called a cold sink. (see image below) Rather than soil on the north wall like pictured below, it would be water barrels and bubble wrap and whatever else I can scout out on the internet.
Whatever we choose, it's going to have to be custom  shaped to accommodate the space. It is likely to look a bit like an "L" lying on it's side.



I hope that all of you have great plans for 2015 and will enjoy all the changes that the year will bring.

Happy Gardening!

 

Bird Garden - in progress

Creating a Bird Garden

INTERNET IMAGE Example ONLY

One of the many items I have noticed on the internet are painted poles and I happen to love bird houses and feeders. I decided to put the ideas together based on images I found online.


(If only mine were this fancy!  I imagine they had to paint the designs before putting the poles into the ground. I'm a bit impatient.)

 Earlier this summer I started the bird garden near the Filbert tree that hangs over the back fence line (aka Hazelnuts) While I have not finished painting the poles due to the arrival of wet, cold weather, this is a very easy project.

1. Picked a location
2. Purchased round poles ( $7 each) and quickcrete from the local hardware store
3. Placed poles and painted with primer so they would last longer (same day)
4. attached metal flashing to keep cats and squirrels from the feeders
5. started painting and attaching feeders and houses (with more to come!)

Suggestions - be sure to have various levels of plants, shrugs and trees nearby to encourage the birds. Mine like to fly from the apple tree in the center of the yard where I've attached suet to the "bird garden" to the neighbors lilac tree over-hanging the north fence to a new feeder I put in by my Japanese Maple.

To attract more birds and bees and create shade, I intend to plant another low tree or high bush in addition to the Eastern Redbud we planted this year. 

A Successful bird feeder in action! 

(As of Thanksgiving, I am filling this feeder every 3-4 days.)

Year One - changes and improvements

While there is no doubt that a low-maintenance yard can be appealing to some and certainly at different stages in life- I like to think I'll be able to work for at least another 20+ years before I have to tone down the workload. In the meantime, so much fun creating and changing! Front yard and back yard changes since home purchase 2013

The BACKYARD - NOVEMBER 2014

There is still lots to do! Re-level the water tanks (there was some soil compression) We hope to build a greenhouse in the next two years and enlarge the garden beds. Bamboo fencing is sitting in my living room waiting to be placed in front of the water tanks and cedar chips remain on the driveway needing to be moved somewhere in the backyard.

Below are some pre-purchase images for comparison - the firepit above is located where the pond below used to be.

 Here's hoping that next year is as successful!

1st year check-in - Front yard progress

Water barrel System connections and overflow

Rainwater collection system continues....

 

 While I got on the roof via ladder (an absolutely terrifying experience I have no intention of repeating) to clean out the gutters, add improved gutter filters, and run the hose to determine the flow patterns, I really need some rain to give it the true test!

Building a woodshed - Part 2

So my husband (Tim) took on the rest of this project, completing it in a day of hot, hard work. Because we don't have a larger sized vehicle we arranged for the delivery from our local Ace Hardware of the 10ft 2x4's, plywood sheeting, and tar paper.   While we had one package of roofing shingles (donated by the previous home owner), I ended up having to get a second package.  Since Tim and I have different idea of what "light grey" means, we ended up with a 2-tone roof.  

One major summer project done before the rains come! (It's supposed to rain in a day or two - check out my post about the water barrel project that is also closer to finished)

The inside demensions are approximately 8ft wide, and 4ft deep (there are 3 rows of wood) We are likely going to cover the rt side (when looking at it) with a tarp or other cover to protect the wood from winter wind and rain. I'll post an update in the spring with how it fares. 

Best of success on your projects!

It's how the garden grows. Soil improvements without tilling

Soil improvement without tilling

Because I'm not inclined to rent a tiller, pay for fertilizers, or generally do more work than I think I have to, I have decided to try an idea I found that should allow the soil to improve over the winter.

This idea came straight  from:http://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2012/11/27/preparing-and-planting-the-raised-row-bed-garden/

This is a great website for organic gardeners!

So this is a photo of the start of this process. Eventually I'll be doing this across more of the covered areas. The plastic now covers all of the straw and rocks from the original pond are holding it down.  Those rocks may have been a pain to move (which I've now done at least 3 times) but so worth it in usefulness!

The local Wilco provided the large bales of straw (did you know you can fit 2 of these in a Scion?)  It made a total mess in the car but I didn't have to wait to borrow a truck.  The straw is 3-5 inches thick and hopefully by next spring it will be happy planting time!

DIY Teacup Bird Feeders

DIY Teacup bird feeders or bird bath

I originally got this idea elsewhere on the internet - if I find the instructions I'll be sure to add the link.  But basically you take glue, teacup, saucer, an old spoon if you want, a copper cap, a stick or post, glue them together. Stick it in the ground!

tea with the feathered friends!

Weekend warriors, water barrels and concrete!

Weekend Warriors woo hoo!

This past weekend  I didn't let the blazing heat keep me from work on the yard (or anything else for that matter) The downside is the need for constant fluid breaks.  When it's over 90 degrees and 50% humidity, being in the direct sun is exhausting. Nevertheless, Sunday I couldn't sleep so I got up around 5:30am (normally I sleep until 10am on my days off)  and began cleaning, organizing, and project fun. When Tim (my husband) wasn't melting he pitched in wherever needed.   Much of the work was in the garage but the yard and garden got a bunch of work done too!

  Cleaning and upgrading the shed...

  We added a shelf in the shed made from an old cupboard door and a spare 2x4 (kindly included in the purchase of the house). This meant I could hang up all those hoses that I keep tripping on.  I re-used twist ties that came with yard products (or string) and simply twisted or looped on a nail on the front of the shelf. They kindly turned themselves sideways improving my original plan and allowing me to put them very close together. 

The shelf turned out to be the perfect length to make a support space for some of the garden tools in the corner.  Excellent!

It's all about concrete

Mixed 12 buckets of concrete using a hand shovel and the grass edger turning myself into a human version of cement truck. This was used to stabilize the woodshed front posts (the back already had concrete) and the brick pathway that is under construction (picture below).



I kindly let Tim move the 80lb bags of mix. 

Concrete as stabilizer and weed reducer

I had originally started the path project without using sand or any intent to use concrete.  Mistake. Trying to get brick remotely level without sand is, well, almost impossible. Walking on it shifted the brick and weeds starting growing in the open squares.  Sure it looked good for a couple of hours but then the soil shifted, got wet, compacted etc.  As a result I had to re-set sections and there is more to correct.  I'm not so serious about  this project that I'm using a level - it's all eyeball. There is no doubt it slopes downward, but no worries - this will ultimately keep the rainwater run-off away from the house in the winter.  This area can get really muddy and It's the path to Tim's recently constructed paint booth.

www.dropoutart.com

Eventually the small spaces that I filled with concrete will have gravel/pebbles added for texture and interest. Maybe even glass pebbles?  Hmmm.

for other projects in process 8/11/14-8/17/14 -see additional posts