Watering System

In March, J started putting together a soaker hose system on a simple timer package I happened to walk by and grab at Costco one day. We never thought we’d be able to afford a real garden-wide sprinkler system for the front, back, lawn, and so on. But since March and success with this initial plan for the raised beds, we’ve slowly been expanding. J has since added the same system to the side of the house, which allows us to use timed soakers in the front garden (where we started improving and working on an eventual mixed hedge), and another on the side for our blueberries and wee pumpkin patch.

Most recently, we tried adding pop-up sprinkler heads for another bed, which I converted from lily field (hated that they all went brown and died at once and that was that) to Dahlia Lounge (then realized I wasn’t getting as many dahlias as hoped because of gnawing-off) to a mixed vegetable and flower garden.We had a few things to learn getting started, of course. A little water hammer to learn about. And backflow valves. And timing issues. It all seems to be working perfectly now!

I love to hear the gentle shush of water out an open window as it turns on, when I am busy doing something else. I’m still not used to it and always a little surprised, but very happy. I think we’ll appreciate it even more when the weather here turns dry in August to September, but even now, it’s keeping things going during the week when we’re too busy.And it’s really helping the front garden get established. All those divided and transplanted stinking iris that hadn’t bloomed in a long time are doing much better now!
I haven’t looked at the water bill yet. That is sure to promote our rain barrel project to the top of the list.

A Dream Comes True

The first couple weeks of May were very busy around here. In addition to getting the house plumbed for gas, replacing an old oil furnace, and converting appliances (and starting a new job), we also finally realized the big dream of getting a privacy fence!

Why this became such a big deal, I don’t know. The first two summers we were living here, no one really lived next door, where we share a large expanse of open lawn space. So it was very nice except that: 1) when sitting on the brick patio you felt on-display, and 2) the neighbor to the back left keeps a large rubbish pile, often covered in an eye-catching blue tarp (lovely). We’re sure that they just never realized that our patio arbor, covered with twinkly lights and blooming clematis, was framing this “Beverly Hillbilly” view (another neighbor's words). Then someone moved in directly next door. She’s quite nice, but busy and just can’t quite mow that lawn. Ever. Okay, once she had someone do it for her. And then of course, directly behind us was the family. I won’t go into all of that, but there was only a chain-link fence between us and their dog and kids and their swingset and their constant shrieking and barbeques.

So we’ve been thinking about this for a couple of years. Last year, we got a bid that was very high and were told we'd have to clear out all the bushes in the way. We tried contacting some other people about design and building, but it’s hard to get responses from people who actually want to be paid and work. We thought about building it ourselves but since we aren’t handy or good at math or have any tools, it felt a little like it was going to a long long sad summer of drudgery and never-ending post-hole digging and redigging (when we inevitably put them in the wrong place and have to redo it).

And then finally we got someone. In a shocking two days (well, after we spent about 16 hours of prep on the weekend ripping out chainlink, jackhammering concrete and cutting back shrubs), and several weeks beforehand of nervous fretting over neighborly discussions, we had a fence! The ex-Marine showed up before 7 a.m. and got to work each day.



The yard feels different and it probably has lost a bit of its open feeling that you just don’t see in this area. But wahooo!! It is sure fun to enjoy the garden without feeling like you’re on display. It’s clear cedar and smells wonderful, and we’re looking forward to a carefree weathering to gray (no staining; we have enough to do around here!).

It’s going to be a fantastic summer! (Note blue tarp peeking out in corner of photo on the other side of the fence!)