A Garden Grows in California

20 Sep '08 2:00 am

Well, thankfully this is a gardening Forum and as usual, if we wait long enough all bad things come to an end. Alabama is now almost completely free of drought (except for a very few localized spots). Gustav was good for us, bringing a much needed dousing. Even my small marsh pond, normally dry at this season, is almost full again; much to the delight of the ducks. They love to swim in this little pond and take afternoon siestas in the shade of the pecan tree nearby. They settle around the pair of crane statues like they think this is just another part of their flock.

As for the real estate picture, I am glad to hear it is not quite as dire in Canada. I hope it doesn't bleed over from the states. We are all pulling for you Gordon.

20 Sep '08 6:35 pm

Hi, Faith-

Hurrah for your rain! I was somewhat concerned about all you folks down there, but I'm glad that something good came from those terrible storms! I envy you your pecan tree; how about a picture of it some time? I've never seen one! We're looking forward (timidly) to rain for tomorrow which is much needed here. I say "timidly" because one never knows here whether this "bit" of rain might actually be the beginning of the fall "monsoon", and it's too early for that!!

Keep the good thoughts coming about my potential sale! For me, it's rather a case of "nip and tuck", being squeezed between the need to sell here before winter closes in up north, preventing me from moving the plants. But it's a typical situation for me to be in. You'd think I'd be used to it by this stage in life, but, NO, experience doesn't make it any easier!! I'm already looking around for places to store my potted plants for the winter in case the sale comes too late.

I feel as if I've entered a "twilight zone" where I don't know whether to prepare the garden for next spring's flowering, or not. I have to keep on cleaning the place in case it has to be shown to someone, so I don't want to get into the garden too much so as not to track in dirt, etc. You'd be amazed how much comes in especially when Joey is out keeping me company. For a little dog, he sure carries in a lot of stuff!!

Well, that's it for today! I'm really glad the hurricanes mostly missed your area!

Cheers!

gordonf

2 Oct '08 3:01 am

What an interesting post of old pics, Mark! Once back at school next week, I shall download them and take a good look... Gordon, I'm really holding thumbs for you, and hope everything works out happily.

I am in transit now at an airport, having just been to see Aunty May, in her 90s, with whom I spend my Xmas seaside holidays: she had a stroke 12 weeks ago and is bed-ridden, so this might well have been farewell... but she is a tough old thing, and we had very happy times together and we parted positive that we would see each other again.

I meanwhile have tumbled from the play, to marking, to doing end of term reports, to coming down to see Aunty May. I have hardly been on the forum for weeks. And when I get home Spring would have advanced another week and there will be much to catch up on in the garden. I have taken pics recently, but not posted much, so I think there will be material for plenty of news soon.

2 Oct '08 3:42 pm

Post away. I could use a dose of spring. More than that I look forward to rain. A couple weeks ago there was dampness on the driveway and I could smell the moisture in the air. I'm really missing the smell of rain. I can't wait to walk the dogs in a good rain. I also want to sit and weed in a light, warm rain and then sit in a hot tub to warm up again.

I've got exciting plans for the old vegetable garden. It'll be sparcely planted and a very formal area laid out to emphasize in the shape of a square. The center will be sunken in with two facing benches and a four foot by eight foot pool with a wall behind down which water will cascade. Lia is going to look into the possibillity of making it a pool with a current one can swim against. There is a chance I would make it a lilly pond but I doubt it. There will be a three foot wide path laid of stone tiles (white with black/grey marbling or else gold/pink) surrounding the center with adjoining areas of pulverized blue grey granite in which I'll let a few sparce bits of grass to grow along with largish patches of Puya to prevent anyone falling into the pond or sunken seating area. The heights will allow the existing deck to serve as a bench too and there will be four 3 foot by 3 foot raised planters, on in each corner, at a height that will allow for still more seating. Beyond this square area I'll cut two circles (3 to 4 foot diameter) into the fence that separates the garden from the creek. Here I'll set in more of the dark blue, asian tile bricks, and to the outside of these I'll plant two columnar shrub/trees (not yet sure what kind - all of this centered on the sunken garden. There'll be a few other plants to screen off an outdoor shower and hopefully a wc. I'm hoping to go at it this winter. I can totally see the space in my mind's eye now and am looking forward to sit in this scene.

Now if my back will just hang in there and let me do what I want this space will be available for use at our big garden/studio party this year. Wish me luck.

3 Oct '08 8:30 am

Wow! It sounds amazing Mark. I wish you all the best in the making of this new garden area. When do the messy excavations begin? Smile

3 Oct '08 1:00 pm

Saturdays for now with extra time through the holidays, especially the two weeks I get off in December to January. I might even pay to get some help with the heavy lifting or rent a small bulldozer and do it myself. There'll be grading as well as digging to do. I'll do the construction but I may get help moving the stones.

4 Oct '08 6:08 pm

What exciting plans and a vision,Mark.You know,if we were all closer we could all pitch in and give you a hand.I am puzzling about where your old vege garden is that the new garden is going into(grammar !!!)
Don't forget the'before' photos for us squizzy-beaks.

4 Oct '08 6:59 pm

Well I just did some rumaging and came up with a bunch of photos showing this area. Drat, now I'm too tired to narate all the photos but perhaps there are enough to see how it all fits together yourself?

I have some apprehension that the space is too small for all I want to do here. We'll see.

5 Oct '08 12:13 pm

It all sounds fabulous Mark. I can't wait to see some progress photos. I really wish we could manage a trip to San Francisco again to see your garden in person. Since we can't even get away to Los Angeles this year, I guess that's a pretty dim prospect. Anyway, have fun and don't overwork yourself.

13 Oct '08 12:18 pm

Hello fellow Mooseyites. I've been digging and drawing the new garden design but nothing much to show yet. I'm working on drawing over a photograph so I can better see how it will feel. I'm a little worried it may feel too cozy but we'll see.

Last Monday we opened the gate to leave for work and found an enormous truck blocking our way. A crew of workmen and engineers were digging away at the top of the culvert where the stream goes under the street. It was a bit of a shock since part of the work was on our property and we hadn't been given any notice. As it turns out we will benifit substantially from the work as it will make our bank more stabilized.

Last week I took some photos of the planters infront of the hot tub area. They contain a lot of my favorite begonias. So here goes.

A Garden Grows in California

Droughts and real estate, how depressing.

Hurrah for the rain!!

Really need to catch up!

Sounds good, Jack.

Thanks Kerole,

exciting plans

Okay Dixie, here comes before ..

A new project! How exciting!

An October Update from Berkeley