A mere nine months later ...

I finally got my first load of stone. Just 950 pounds today, but I've handled each piece at least 6 times already. Spent most of the afternoon building it backward. In other words, the slope was all wrong and it looked just plain stupid. More like a pile of tombstones than a rock garden!

I think I've got that part figured out now, so tomorrow I'll get a load of fill and start setting them in. This one isn't turning out to be a crevice garden, so I think I'll try a small one of those later on, and in another area; they're a lot harder to build than they look!

Very cool! I hope after handling nearly a ton of rock six times over, you might one day have enough remaining energy to take a picture or two?

I sure will...once I get something that looks like, well...something.

Hopefully tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a soak in a hot bath and a refreshing beverage might be good.

Agreed! But the refreshing beverage might have made me too sleepy for the soaking!

I'm probably a little bit nuts to think I'll actually be doing this again tomorrow, but I'm afraid that if I give my body a long enough break that it realizes what I'm doing to it...I'll be done for a week!

I hope you took some before pictures for yourself, if not for us. You'll be kicking yourself if you didn't......

This first one is going to be added to the end of an existing raised bed, in an area with a fairly steep slope in the grade. I probably have pictures of that area already, but I'll take more today. So far I can see that some exposed rock is what was missing in my garden landscape. I already love seeing its reflection in the waters of the lake. Even if this area doesn't grow the specialty plants well, I'll still be happy with its appealing aesthetics .

It's hard to have too much rock. I never seem to have enough.

On Sunday I was moving one rock pile to another so I just have one. My neighbor was walking. He stopped and asked what I was going to do with all the rocks. I told him eventually make a raised bed. He wanted to know if I was going to use all the rocks. And if not he would be happy to take the leftovers. I thought, NOT! I spent the time and energy moving these babies. Even what I don't use on that project can go into something else! Never can have too many rocks! Ha, give my rocks away. How silly

jvdubb said: Ha, give my rocks away. How silly

I never knew I had such a fascination for rocks until I spent some time in the rock yard... now, I want.

Gives a new meaning to the concept of a pet rock.
(At least for those old enough to remember.....)

Remember? I had one!

Okay. To me this isn't really a "before" picture, but this is the area I'll be working in.



I'd previously piled compost, wood chips and logs to smother out weeds and grasses. I'll pull most of that out as I set the stones. I'd eventually like to do this entire area, but I'm just starting on a corner for now. Not sure if I'll do the whole front side this go-round, or if I'll wait till next time, but at least I'm started.

Here's my poor truck...dragging its tail with today's load of fill.



And here's the distance I'll tote it all. See that burgundy mum...way back there? The working area is behind that.

No need for a gym, then.

The very first garden I made was in an urban backyard in San Francisco. As I began digging, I discovered someone had broken up pavement at some time in the past, and simply left it there where it had been covered by trash and dirt. I womanhandled unknown pounds of slabs of pavement that I would pry up, across the yard and under the house where fortunately there was plenty of open area.

I was young. And the distance was not as far as to that red mum. But I did have to pry each piece out of the ground!

Anyway, I sympathize, but you are going to end up with something gorgeous, I have no doubt!

At the end of today's activities, we have...something. I have my doubts that it's a perfect setup for growing plants, but I like it anyway.




Also had to get the truck unloaded enough to drive to a meeting at the school tonight, and that just about did it for me today.

LOT of work, there, chelle.

Wow. I think it's gorgeous! And sure you can grow plants there. I mean, adjustments always have to happen, but this is a great start!

Thanks!

I have some plants still in starter pots that need to be homed really soon, so I'll probably just settle things a few more times and then try planting them out.