Now that we have the indoor projects completed, Someone and I are looking at improving the yard.
Most homes in Phoenix have some sort of watering system, especially if they have grass or palm trees. The previous owners (curse them) put down a patio on top of some of the irrigation system so when it is running water bubbles up underneath the cracks. If we turn off the water, the citrus trees wither. So a new watering system is priority #1.
We need new lights for the outside. The front has no walkway lights and no ‘spotlights’ on some of the trees and bushes. This is Priority #2.
Priority #3 is putting down some new plants. Normally I would do this myself but I am not familiar enough with cacti and palms to know what to buy and how to place them properly. We need more greens in the back; when we look out back we mostly see ‘wall’.
We can more of less do what we want in the back, but the Gestapo Home Owners Association limits what we can do in the front.
As a bonusm Mr. Landscaper is designing a raised bed in which to grow some vegetables in the winter and autumn months. Wouldn’t that be marvelous to grow vegetables again! I must restrain myself from too many dreams – the damn thing isn’t even up yet.
We plan to include in the landscaping plans the erection of our snow meter. It is a metal pole consisting of large numbers. You look out the window to see how many inches of snow are on the ground.
It may be broken as we haven’t seen even one inch of snow.



11 comments
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August 20, 2008 at 5:17 AM
tigeryogiji
Good luck with those plans! I especially like the snow meter!
August 20, 2008 at 6:53 AM
Nick
A snow meter in Arizona — I love the irony. And perhaps Mr. Landscaper will be a hottie — an added bonus.
August 20, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Bigg
I actually hope your snow meter erection continues to lack inches (of snow!) because snow is the last thing you want. Living in the snow belt as I do, I know whereof I speak on this one.
August 20, 2008 at 1:56 PM
BentonQuest
Snow meter? Classic!
August 20, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Lemuel
I should send you a PA weather forecasting rock for your yard. When its wet its raining, when its white it’s snowing, etc.
August 20, 2008 at 4:29 PM
cedrorum
Not to worry you, you know I would never do that, but watch out for the scorpions while you’re digging. That is how I’ve met the only ones we have out here.
August 20, 2008 at 5:27 PM
laurie
When you are done there, I have a few items you could attend to as well.
August 21, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Diederick
I’m baffled: a garden with cacti, palm trees and… …a snowmeter!? What strange shifting continent did you move to??? :s
I do totally agree that garden is very important. If I can’t live in the woods of the Veluwe (the green heart of the Netherlands) I at least want a big green garden, which is green al year ’round. Though the latter shouldn’t be a big problem since I don’t think we’ll have winters anymore by then, let alone we’d have the need for a snowmeter…
The downside of living in a town with close neighbours is walls. Unfortunately we live in a semi-rural town with close neighbours, so what little view we had at the front where there were no neighbours, is now dominated by 2 metres high corn (6,56 ft). Damn bio-gas industry!
August 21, 2008 at 7:53 AM
Jason
Why did my mind go to “Manscaping” when I saw your title??
I miss having a yard! Have fun in that garden
August 22, 2008 at 7:44 AM
Steven
Love the snow meter! I may have to get one. My mother has a prickly pear cactus that is planted outside and despite the cold winters, it comes back yearly with many more pads and yellow blooms. I have sanita cactus and good luck cactus which are growing like crazy right now in the August sun. The good luck cactus tends to grow the fastest. I’ve had to “amputate” some of their arms off the main bodies and transplant to make additional plantings. Have a fun time with the outdoor projects.
August 24, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Sean
Tease! I thought we were going to get intimate details of a trim job in your nether regions…