Well, here's sorta how it all started ...
I bought this place a couple years ago. No lawn to speak of out back, just a bunch of dirt, mud, and dried straw (they owners spread it out to cut down on the mud because of their dogs, I suppose)
Anyhow, here it is in June of last year (2004). That's my friend, Tom, getting ready to do some electrical work. That's Sparky ... the infamous Jack Russell Terrorist.
Entrance to the pond and surrounding garden shortly after completion.
Some weeks later, Mother Nature doin' her thang...
The beginnings of a pond and a rather smallish attempt at a waterfall. It looked alright given the dimensions of everything else, but it got plugged up alot and would quickly lose water flow. So, a high maintenance thing.
As the summer continues, the plants continue to grow.
Moral of this picture: I wasn't killing too many things at this point. :o)
Pond-itis struck once again ...
So, time to exhume. Out with the old ...
Remember this guy?
http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=1623843
(copy of first pic posted)
Here's a similar view, about a year later ...
Sort of a change, huh?
Remember my buddy on the back-how a couple pics up ? Here's a shot from a similar angle a few weeks later. There was a 4x4 in the way because we also extended the deck at the same time .... yeah, it has been an EXHAUSTING summer!
WOW!!! You worked your butt off and it shows! Ü
I patted my DH and myself on the back for digging a 1,800 gallon pond.
Okay, so we exhumed the old solid liner pond. What's a pond lover to do with such a thing? Make something BIGGER and BETTER out of it, of course! Sell it in a yard sale my eye ..... crackah, PLEASE.
The insides of said waterfall basin. I'll elaborate later ... I'm late for Martini time and then I've got league night tonight. All the same, the blue thing is a big old rubbermaid sort of contraption that serves as one of my main mechanical filters.
And lastly ... a view from forward of the waterfall looking out towards the fountain and willow tree and swing ... and rock garden ... and pathway ... and and and and .... I just want some domoral and tequila, please.
Thanks Lilypon! Yeah, it has been a busy summer. We added a deck, installed a hot tob, ran a 19" trench about 80feet to said tub, another 80+ feet of trenching to the pond for its electrical (and 19" deep in the rock and cement like clay we have is a BEAR! Let's see, we also "had" to put in a raised garden with a blue slate rock wall that is about 12 feet wide or so ... I KNOW I am forgetting everything else.
I quit. :o)
LOLOL......we crawled for the rest of the summer after just digging a pond. ;) We too have clay. :b
You done real GOOD! :)
Yep, it's a real nice job you've done there, buck. Nice and tropical looking. Glad your buddy survived his crazy engagement with the back hoe! He WAS standing on top of it, right? Hope that was BEFORE martini time! Two guys, plus martinis, plus a back hoe generally spell trouble around here!
Being middle aged with a big yard gives a whole new meaning to the term 'no pain, no gain'! LOL Bring on the narcotics! I need to sleep through the pain!
Yeah ... he actually dismounted the thing by way of a mighty impressive back flip (this kid has some serious issues anyhow). Now THAT was something I wished I had the camera ready for!
Hey Thom,
I just found this thread and finally get to see where your going to put all the new plants I sent you.
Wow, nice job!! Yeah, reworking a back garden is always hard work, but look at how it turned out. I notice that you don't have any grass to mow...lol I did the same thing, no grass, just plants and walkways. I also don't have any grass in my small front yard, just plants, hardscape and groundcover.
Very nice, hope your enjoying it all now.
Donna
Mannnnnn.... you and my wife need to get together. She's four square against the no-lawn look. But ... as you can see ... she's slowly coming around! :o)
Thanks!
Buck
