Flowers mid-December

 

This was left from the prior landscaping as was the one below

One of my favorites so there is another in the front yard

The hummingbirds love this and it is placed to be seen from the kitchen window.

A low spreader and delicate to fill some space in the front

A Camilla that will get 4 to 5 feet tall and welcome us to the front door. Also hummingbird friendly.

Weeks 36: It’s all about the yard

We have been pitching in to move this project along. Hubby laid out the flagstone so the workers could level them and fill the gaps. I dug up old termite bait stations, pruned some plants we are keeping, leveled some areas near the foundation, researched plants, arranged for a neighbor to use her extra free pickup for 19 green waste bags, and picked up trash, rocks and branches. 

Lots of progress in the back yard. Here is the new patio a week ago (top) and at the end of the week (bottom).

And the walkway

End of day 1: backyard hardscape redo

 

Some of the sand added for walkway and patio

Yard redo progress

Here’s where we ended last week with the yard project. 

The patio is slippery when wet so will be fixed and repainted with different colors on the two levels to help denote the step down. The missing bottom step and railings will be added. Plants along the fence and pots near the house.

Everything within the white flags in the yard area will be flagstone set in sand and provide play and other use areas by having a lower level patio and walkway. Then areas of gravel next to the stone and then planting beds with bark mulch. The main plantings will be along the back fence to screen the neighbors messy area from our view from the balcony. They won’t interfere with the expansive view of San Francisco Bay though. There will be other plants but a lot of open area. We aren’t focused on native plants per se, but definitely low water ones on a drip irrigation system.

The front and side yards are getting a drip irrigation system, being regraded so water runoff is better, and almost all new plants with bark mulch. We have discovered a couple of stumps that have to be dealt with and have more plants needing removal but the drip mechanism has been installed next to the faucet. The rarely used walkway to and down the side of the house will be flagstone stepping stones not a closely placed walkway like in the back.

Lots to do to make this a reality so we, the pup and family and friends can enjoy the outdoor part of our new home.

This week we are making decisions about the flagstone and gravel so it can be purchased and delivered. We are also setting up an appointment with a painting company to find out how to fix the patio and to get an estimate plus figure out how to sequence that work with everything else to be done in the yard. Hopefully more progress in the front too.

The need to redo the yard was a major surprise after moving in. A big expensive surprise but since we are doing it we want it to be something we really like. We are saving plants that we think can be used in different spots but there weren't many that were pet/child safe and the right size.

And so it begins - backyard clearing

 Another project underway starting today. Removal of hardscape and plants we might reuse potted up. A few left to dig up and pot. First 2 photos taken from our upstairs balcony and 3rd from the patio steps. The backyard is an L shape with the patio on the short side.