The storm before the calm

My backyard is a mess! So many projects going on - it's a good thing we're not having people over. I'd be embarrassed. It is the "storm before the calm." It will get cleaned up soon as some projects are done. 

Husband is working on extending the existing patio to the planter on the other end. He painstakingly digs the grass up, lays down silicon sand and places the paver down. He is methodical. That area is exceptionally challenging because when my parents owned this house, they had rocks around the edges of the lawn area, that we just let the grasses grow up and between. What a chore. So, he sifts the dirt and the rocks - and keeps a pile of rocks in another area of the yard. Oy Vey! 

I've already improved this. 

Taken this morning, I hauled over a wooden pallet with plywood nailed to it and made a flat-level surface to work on. Removed the pavers (which was my husband's doing) I did not want them there. I laid down a weed barrier under the table and placed the pallet on top.  It is already looking better. 

 I dug around in my china cabinet and pulled out these aluminum chargers I got years ago at Sonoma and Williams - I never use them anymore. So I plan to edge the top of that garden area with them. It's still a work in process...

Saturday I bought a 4 x 4 raised garden bed at Home Depot. It's been so hot, I put it together last night in my living room and my husband helped me carry it out and place it in the yard. This morning, when this was taken, I placed some pavers to the side - I weed-whacked down to the bare dirt. I also decided to remove my dad's ladder. I will put that somewhere else. It's too precious to me so I believe I will place it under the house eves and place empty pots on it. 

For this summer, I plan to just fill the bed with dirt, plant various sunflowers for the Fall and start some blue morning glories by the picket fence. I already have some started in another area and our growing season is long. Should look real nice for my family bonfire and weenie roast which is usually in early October. 

My covered patio? That is junked up with tools and supplies. I want to power wash the cement - hopefully, next week. 

It's getting there. We're just not that fast - we poop out, plus it's HOT. We do what we can, but WE WILL GET IT DONE! 

Sunflowers

Woodland, Ca

I LOVE SUNFLOWERS. I am sunflower CRAZY! I've decided with my many flower failures in the past, sunflowers grow really good here in the Sacramento Valley of California. HOT DRY summers and an extra-long growing season.

I did not know this! According to the National Sunflower Association, most sunflowers are grown in the Dakotas but 95% of the seeds for all sunflower farms come from California—especially the Sacramento Valley. 

In terms of acreage, it’s the number-one seed crop in the state. 

My new little garden area above is under construction right now and has been delayed due to extreme heat (105+) I purchased a 4 x 4 raised garden bed I will install and I have a few mixed sunflower seeds that I will hopefully get planted this week. I like sunflowers to be blooming from June to October!

Just down the valley from me is a town in Yolo County, Woodland. They have many Sunflower Farms. Just off the I-5, you will see them in full bloom on both sides of the interstate - They are so beautiful. Great place to visit but NOW everything is closed.

Maybe something like this

I have some plans to incorporate my small garden area into an abundance of sunflowers next year. That's my plan.

All different types -

What a happy flower the sunflower is. So that's my plan for next year. I am tired of planting flower seeds that are just too delicate for our HOT summer heat.

I see the Vision!

I used an old quilt stand, added some wood that fit perfectly on top, 

and have placed some potted plants I am nursing back to health after our 117 degrees. 

My husband extended the picket fence - so that I could have a small yard to garden in. 

It's MY GARDEN to do with as I want. It will be eclectic, funky, whimsical. It will take the rest of the summer to get it the way I envision. Using scrap wood and materials, we already had on hand, He made an arbor for me that I hope to plant some flowering vines.  On top of the arbor, I need some more planks to cut, paint, and add to it. A gate will come next year because I am picky as to what I want. I will need to research it. 

The other side of the fence closer to the hill is where my husband will put down pavers 

to extend our patio. 

Our covered patio used to have lattice and we removed it. It sat for a few years - I wouldn't let my husband throw it out. Finally, I decided to just put it on the fence as seen in the top photo. 

This will be paved over by Oct. Just weeds. We've been trying to get rid of most of our lawn area anyway due to droughts and we want to lessen our water needs. 

Yes, that is an OLD bike that was my Mom's and I need to paint it and put it somewhere. 

Doing a little artwork on the fence. Ha, it is what it is. I wanted a dry brush look for the middle fence. TRUST ME, I know what I am doing! I am a "painter's daughter!" 

The ladder belonged to my dad. He used this one at home but he was a Commercial Painting Contractor in San Francisco and even bid on the Golden Gate Bridge to paint. 

I'm still "thinking" on what to do with it. I might paint it, or leave it as is. I don't know yet. 

Another angle of my yard. I did slop some paint on the ladder. 

The verdict is still out as to what I will end up with. 

No sunflowers yet so I got out my metal sunflowers I use in the Fall - along with the corn. 

There is a log-planter on the side of my house that my dad built - it's falling apart. We had some bushes in there that I was allergic to, so my husband cut them way back. They were tall and beautiful but had to go. Their roots pushed out the logs on the planter that we will fix next spring.  We'll just leave that for next spring. The coke bottle is to temporarily cover the metal rebar as to not impale my dog if she should run and jump/fall on it. 

This side area gets the HOT afternoon sun. (noon to 6pm)  I have some sunflowers planted but they are not doing as well as they should, so I don't know what is going on there. Maybe not enough morning sun.  It's a HOT MESS for sure. Good thing, it's not seen much. I do have BIG plans for it. 

Do you see the rusted old Smoker? I plan to do something with that, too. Any ideas? 

I see the VISION, even if you can't. For the longest time, my husband couldn't or wouldn't see it. He says, ever time I come up with something, he gets nervous. 

My Mary Engelbreit COPY

The REAL Mary Engelbreit table

I had this old maple end table that had been my son's. I try not to throw things out if I can use them.  I dragged it out of the garage and stared at it for a couple of months. The top was cracked and came totally off. It just sat on my patio as I looked at it for months. 

I had seen a Mary Engelbreit end table online and loved it. That was my inspiration! 

Took me 2 days - (100 degrees heat) Did the best I could to glue the tabletop - and toward the end, I confess to rushing to get it done and taking shortcuts - but that's me. I always do that! It isn't perfect but I like it. It's on the patio anyway. 

My Mary Engelbreit COPY

And the finished product turned out pretty good.

 

I am pleased with it. 

 

Thank GOD for flowers

We spread wildflower seed on our hill - and this pretty pink flower came up - I don't know what it is. It looks pretty with the poppies that are still blooming in all of this HEAT.

My white Agapanthus is starting to bloom. 

These are some of the lilies, my friend gave me last year. 

I love FREE. 

Another view of the Agapanthus. 

Who doesn't like Lavender and poppies? 

Beautiful reminders, that life is still worth living. 

walking around my yard

This Aloe Vera flower is kinda freaky to me. 

It looks like a bunch of plantains.

A dusty-miller. I like to plant them in and around other plants 

for that POP.

My mini roses. My dad bought this as an inside plant for my Mom. She kept it inside until it stopped blooming and so he planted it in the garden. We've lived here for 12 years and this plant must be at least 13 or older. It's been going strong ever since.

I didn't plant any vegetables this year due to all the work we have going on. I did plant a tomato plant in a container under my front window, just to see how it would fair. 

Our summers are so HOT - 105+ and that sun totally burns up my veggies and cooks my tomatoes! I planted this one as a test - 

to see if the tree-dappled-sun would be a better place. 

If it is, next year I may plant veggies in the front yard!

My wheel barrel of flowers. All of these flowers made it through 2 winters. I didn't have to plant anything - just weeded out the dead foliage - added some more topsoil.

And here is my little potting table I have in the front yard.

Rain and delivery delays

Our beautiful warm weather changed into some heavy rain and colder temps. The delivery keeps getting rescheduled.

 They deducted the delivery fee due to the delays. 

All my outdoor projects have stalled.  UGH, that means I have to do something inside and I am not "into" it. 

I could go clean up my craft room. 

I could do another spring clean on the whole house. 

More laundry (there's always laundry!)

I don't want to do any of that - I want to be outside. 

More projects

Home Depot let us know, that our supplies are delayed. 

Delivery won't be till the 12th! I was so looking forward to getting started. 

A few more days won't kill me. 

In the meantime, I am not without "projects" and many are half-finished. I seem to do that. I start something and then get interested in something else. It will get done. Soon... One such project is 2 old IKEA wicker chairs that I've had for 20 years. Since I do not like to throw anything out, I stripped one of them down and what I do, is I stare at it - okay I stare at it for DAYS to try and come up with how I want to repurpose it. 

At first, I thought I might just weave them making a homemade rag rope from old material to make a really cool chair - 
TOO MUCH WORK. 

I wouldn't want to use it outside. 

I have enough chairs! 

Rag design like this? 

Or something like this? 

Probably more like this. 

It's simple - staining the wood, and then placing potted plants on it.  I know, not a lot of imagination -  

It will be good for the time being. 

I just need some old fence boards for the seat part and voila, 

I have another place to display my potted plants. 

Fun times (work) ahead

I liked the one landscaper so much, (he is the gardener for one of our friends) that we just went with him. We clicked. Although it is a bit more than we had budgeted for we are only having them do the hard stuff; the lifting and hauling and some sprinkler work -  We'll plant shrubs ourselves next year. They will come on May 22. I am so excited. He will also totally cap off the sprinkler system on that part of the yard. Replace them with bubblers and drip lines.

Get rid of weeds

level out yard

fill with dirt

lay down weed barrier

river rocks. 

Tomorrow Home Depot will be dropping off supplies for us - some fencing materials, pavers, and bricks. There will be no vacation for us, this year. Maybe camping. That's fine with me. I'd rather stay at home. 

Oleanders

We're supposed to get into the H90's - maybe see our first 100. Then we'll drop down into the '70s. later in the week.  I like it when it does that. It gives us a break from the HOT temps. Soon, there will be no breaks. During the summer months, we stay in the 105+ for 40-60 days straight. Believe me, that gets OLD. 

Oleanders do well in here due to the heat. They are also drought-resistant and keep blooming throughout the summer. 

Pink Pomegranate 

The Pomegranate is blooming profusely - also because of the heat. 

Shasta daisies. 

Take it to the curb

We try to always, do things ourselves. That's why things take so long to complete. Since these SIP orders, we are getting a lot done and we're starting on some bigger projects as soon as the materials are delivered to us, this Saturday.

Right now I am waiting for an estimate from a landscaper to do a small/medium job we just can't do. We've decided to get estimates on a portion of our front yard - that has been problematic for us for a few years. I have another estimate on Wednesday. Still need to find another but 2 estimates are good enough.

The yard from the picket fence to the curb drives me crazy. We have tree roots that have taken over. Overgrown bushes. We want no to low maintenance. All the pretty flowers and such are on the other side of the fence. I am a tree-lover.  I do not want my trees cut. I'm thinking we need to add topsoil to protect the roots from our HOT summers. For weed control, I want a weed barrier laid down and a simple planting area between the trees and surrounded by river rocks. (Due to our high fire danger, river rocks are recommended)  We'll see what we can actually afford, or what we want to spend, etc...

It is a south-facing yard - Trees provide much-needed shade on the backside of the front yard from our triple digits. It's a shaded area with the exception of the sun that peaks in the late afternoon/early evening from the setting summer sun which can be extremely HOT and wilts many plants. I need some drought resistant plants. Some BIG rocks - I could plant bulbs in and around them for spring color.

Something similar to this 

or this. 

Much better than this

Funky times.

Not much we can do, in the way of getting out, we're doing funky things in our yard. I had an old metal security screen door that was sitting to the side of our house - rusting away. I don't like to throw anything out. Of course, that drives my husband up a wall. IT may take me years, to figure out what to do with something, but it will eventually find a home.

Took off the hardware and used it on the backdoor which needed a lock. This area is going to be a garden area - it's small and it will be nice if I ever get it done.

The plants in the background, I am allergic to. So my husband cut them down and dug up the roots. I now have this long planter. I think this year I will just plant some sunflowers, so I can think about it for another season.

The rusted smoker in the background was my dad's. We're thinking of making it into a garden robot or maybe R2D2 if we get really creative.

The spot under the window has always been a trouble spot for me. Now when I am potting my plants,  my kitty (Susie) can sit and watch me from her garden window. The 3 wooden planters I found for FREE on the side of the road. I will stain them.

The front yard is blooming - my Aloe Vera plant and my nasturtiums.