Sunday, February 23, 2014

kicking off 2014 with a landscape redo and drought tolerant california planting - before pictures

You have probably heard. We are having a drought in California. We showed great reverence for this terrible state of affairs by removing our roses (thirsty girls).

midcentury modern landscaping

In our household we are exceptionally good at removing things. Not so good at putting things back together. To be perfectly honest, I think I had the roses pulled out about nine months ago. Don't judge.

This is a super dangerous strategy as I am on our housing tract's HOA Board of Directors and know, for a fact, they cite people with dirt patches in the front yard.

I also had an entire strip of jungle removed during my fit of deforestation.

Jungle before:

midcentury modern landscaping

midcentury modern landscaping

midcentury modern landscaping


After deforestation.

midcentury modern landscaping

midcentury modern landscaping

But honestly. What. To. Do. Next.

Husband was pissed. I had executed Sherman's March to the Sea without a plan or a budget. So the project completely stalled.

He forbade me to touch the fountain courtyard until we had agreed on next steps. Our house is really typical mid-century modern and there are at least three separate courtyards. Kid you not.

midcentury modern landscaping

midcentury modern landscaping


And then we bought a puppy in October. They tell you puppies are just like babies, but did I listen? What could possibly be worse than a baby? Ha ha ha.

Siberian Husky

Next came Christmas. And you know what that is like. There is the Christmas card...

Siberian Husky

And I had to decorate my pole at the office.

Christmas Pole Decorating Contest

Christmas Pole Decorating Contest

Luckily just when things look most dismal, and you are sure you will never, ever finish your home project, God intervenes on your behalf. In this case, it was my next door office neighbor, who told me his brother was slowing down in January. His brother, Dan the Landscaper, created this amazing strip of yard in the VERY back of the house when we remodeled our bathrooms and added the Plus One.

Midcentury modern landscaping

Well, even this picture above shows my favorite zen place as a little overgrown and out of control compared to the BEFORE.

Midcentury modern landscaping

Midcentury modern landscaping

GAWD we suck at garden maintenance. So I put a call into Dan. Would he have time to make the rest of the yard look like the very, very back of the yard?

Turns out he did. 2014 is shaping up very nicely.

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9 comments:

  1. How exciting that you're going to get the rest of the yard done...and by someone else. I like projects so much better if someone else does all the hard work and just lets me make decisions. :) I know it's going to look fantastic, because he did a great job on the back.

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    1. Hey Dana!!!! Yes, I am a total fan of projects by others. Dan is very good. We have a plan and he is following. After pictures will come shortly, but first Palm Springs Modernism! I have a bit of catching up to do. :)

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  2. The drought and juniors need to have some running space are changing your yards...go with the flow. Great job Rebecca

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    Replies
    1. In Va. we are getting above average rain fall. I'll ship it west. Have you tried a rain barrel?
      Has anyone thought about turning sea water into fresh water or is it to expensive?

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    2. If you figure out how to ship your rain West, you will be rich and famous. I guarantee. Desalination is the word for ocean to fresh... not sure why they don't do it? Must be $$$ or maybe it doesn't work?

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  3. Fab to read a post from you again Rebecca AFTER ALL THIS TIME!
    But then I guess decorating a pole does take it out of you, right?!
    If the rest of your garden turned out as good as that strip you showed us you'd better post some snaps quick smart. x

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  4. Yay! You and Dana did not abandon me!!! Thanks for nosing back.

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  5. Welcome back, I was worried that such a unique and insightful blog was going away! I'm getting caught up on others' posts...slowly. Can't wait to see how this comes out, with your local interpretation on the desert garden.

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