ROCK MUSICIAN with ROCK FARMER
It has been an ordeal trying to grow anything green in our backyard. With a combination of desert blistering heat and the workmen’s leftover whatevers that make the soil like concrete, it has been a struggle for years. We have gardened, we have treed, we have sodded, we have tennis elbowed all over the place, making valiant attempts at greening our space. But we end up only offering life-support to forever dying flora. And since mowing is increasingly a tough chore for hubby (especially when half is thatch and dirt), and it is not on my bucket list, we have opted to save money and effort and go xeriscape. To make us sound even greener than we are, you can say it is totally an effort to be eco-friendly–smaller footprint and all that jazz.
I must admit, though, my vision does not appear to be quite the same as hubby’s. When the mountain of pea gravel was dumped and carted to the backyard, I was having a lot of misgivings and started dreaming of English gardens instead. Who cares about the CA water shortage! Our dog adapted fairly quickly and was seen hopping over these little mounds. Traitor!
I told him to wear sunscreen!
Since this was to be a long process, budgeted carefully, I was feeling a little blue–or maybe grey. But when it was leveled out, it seemed a bit better. And now that we have a lot of the paving stones in place and ready to be sunk in, I feel somewhat better.
Plants were a ways off in our budget, but my sis-in-law bequeathed to us some succulents from her yard. So now I can look out the window by my computer and see red steps to succulent land, and it gives me hope that an English–okay maybe Russian (like Siberian) garden is not far off. 🙂
Roses on drip will come in groups, and colorful desert grasses will eventaully dot this desert wonderfland. So stay tuned. This will be a process. I am sure you all are just holding your breath in expectation. I know I am! . . . Oh, and did I mention it is May, and yesterday it was 102 degrees!
A p r o n h e a d -- Lilly Green 
Very nice! Very ZEN!! Three cheers to rock star assistants making your vision come true.
Well, the vision is in my head and will be a process of time and money over a longer period of time. But at least it is not all grey! 🙂
Oh! A nice allergen-free environment. My husband and oldest’s grass pollen allergies have kicked in full force. The poor dears are suffering to allow our grassland birds a chance to nest. I am sure my men would enjoy a safe haven like this to escape to.
It is not my preference, but it is realistic living in the desert.
It’s looking beautiful already!
Better than at first. I will like it better when I can add more, but it is better for water and hubby energy conservation. We still have green in the front so far if I need a lawn fix!
This is beautiful. I loved the way it all turned out!!! No mowing either how great. God Bless, SR
Still in process, but I’m seeing hope. 🙂
This is looking really great ! Rocks are awesome and can make something out of nothing. You’ll be so happy to have a garden that doesn’t require so much maintenance, so well worth the wait.
I can hardly wait till I get more plants, though.
I kinda liked the mogul look. 🙂 Adding the pavers/stepping stones was a nice touch, leading to your plants. Can’t believe it’s that hot already!
I am not ready for summer! Hopefully, we will have a spat of June gloom before the worst comes.
Exciting prospects.
It’s definitely not a Tootlepedal garden, but hopefully it will be pretty in a deserty kind of way eventually.
This looks great, I like the way the paving slabs divide up little areas – I am a great fan of succulents lots of variety!
I’ll be adding some grasses and cacti eventually too, but I will add to my roses on drip. Gotta use some water!!!
As a home inspector and a former professional landscaper, let me make a suggestion for your stepping stones. Either use a double wide row, a wider stepping stone, or stagger the stones so that they are left/right/left/right in a natural walking pattern. That will help prevent falls and injuries; tripping hazards are the #1 cause of accidents and injuries around our homes.
Ooh, that’s good advice. We haven’t sunk them yet.