HOA-permitting (so to speak), we are a go for the landscaping job to start on Monday the 15th. We have a deposit with Mile High Landscaping, and are finishing up with some final decisions and prep.
We do still have to get HOA permission, of course. The application (and the drawing) are with them now, and we’re waiting to hear back.
We are still pondering the flagstone — we’re probably avoiding the standard Arizona Buff in favor of a Colorado Red. We still also haven’t decided about the Great Boulder Question, either. But next week one afternoon we’ll be going with the contractor dude to some rockyards to … pick our own flagstone. How cool is that? And they have boulders there for us to be tempted by, too.
We also have to decide on trees. Waiting for an email from the contractor on that with some suggestions.
Meanwhile, this weekend, we start prep work.
This weekend:
- Take a baseline picture.
- Trim back the roses (with an eye to transplanting them into some pots next weekend)
- Dig up the irises* (bundle like with like) (see Special Offer Below!)
- If there are other small(ish) plants that seem like they could survive, transplant them elsewhere in the yard.*
- Do some weeding in the (not-to-be-landscaped) portions. Chop down the little dead aspen over there.
Next weekend:
- Do any of the above items marked with an asterisk (*) that didn’t get done.
- Move the pot from the patio to the Old Tree Trunk side of the driveway.
- Transplant roses into those (and any others I can find) pots.
- Shift bricks to elsewhere in the yard.
- Remove hose and wire sculpture.
Easy-peasy!
And now for our Special, Limited-Time Offer! We have more iris rhizomes (once we pull things out) than we can currently justify replanting. So we’d like to share the wealth. If you’re in the area, and want some irises … let us know.
Getting excited …!
Did 1, 2, about a third of 3, and most of 4. Filled in some empty areas with some transplanted proven survivors, and started bundling up iris rhizomes.
The job is a bit broader than expected, because we’ll be also putting in some flagstone stepping stones off the right side (from the street) of the patio down over to the side gate. Should be nice, but it means there are a few more plants to transplant (permanently or temporarily) than expected.
The neighbors are all waiting to snatch up spare iris rhizomes …
I still think you need a theme… like Fangorn, or Endor, or Vulcan.
OK, maybe not Vulcan.
“We’re going to need boulders. And sand. Lots of sand. Oh, can we get a giant hexagonal gong in the middle? Yeah, right there by the big rock.”