You all didn't get to see the second toy I borrowed from Higgins Tool Rental. LOL I was too tired to walk back to my car for the camera. This is the Bobcat/loader I used to move around all the dirt I had delivered and to remove the clay from the pond area and build up the foundation around the house.
Have I mentioned lately that I love tools?????
I actually did this tree the day the dirt was delivered. I made one trip at a time with a wheelbarrow. Big mistake!
I had 20 yards of soil dropped in one of my long beds, 20 yards in another long bed and an extra 20 dropped by the barn for later. The extra 20 is probably 2/3 gone. I am so glad I took the extra!
Here are the two long beds before I finished shaping them up. I had the driver straddle the cardboard I laid out and drop while he drove. LOL I started with about 4 huge piles on each strip and had to move it all around.
Here are two of my helpers after a long day of work. Part of my bribery is to give them a ride in the dump cart or wagon when our work is done. I have no idea what is up with the smirks. LOL Jazzi does a great job of sticking name tags in, stacking pots and fetching things. Maddie has mastered the grab and run. If she isn't sitting on the riding mower, she is making off with bulbs and plants or climbing the dirt piles!
I call this one the kitchen bed. It is at the end of the house behind a sidewalk that connects the front and back porches/doors. It is really too small to do too much with. I think in the spring it will become and herb garden. I'd really like to bust out that sidewalk but and trying to contain myself. For now it has become home to some leftover purple bloomers.
There were already some lillies of unknown color in there, a couple of dark pink dianthus and a variegated sedum. Other than that, it held a whole bunch of weeds! I added three chunks of grape hyacinths, old fashioned iris, hardy ageratum, stokesia asters, unamed purple daylily, etc. Knowing me, I'll be throwing some yellow stuff in next.
Looking GOOD!
What a perfect Munchkin shot too!
Ric
I think Mystic posted these beds on the last post, after her weekend of planting torture. This is what they looked like when I left this afternoon.
You might be wondering why that bed on the right looks so naked. It is the yellow, orange and red bed. Most of the plants with those colors were dug first and potted. They are still here, all the short plants on the left.
Oh look, another favorite toy!
Chele, stupid question here, but do you till the beds before you lay the cardboard and have the dirt brought in?
I guess I better get to work on that bed. It sure does look sad! It goes along with that fence that is slowly falling apart! I guess there is some decking lumber in my future unless I find some decent fence board to be found. LOL
I didn't till. The top soil is good and loose. You should have seen the mess I made with the bobcats! LOL It's the clay beneath the topsoil that is awful! The Bobcat with the tracks was worse than the one with the wheels but it was for a more heavy duty job.
I don't know if there is something dead in the field, it wanted my fish or was telling me I needed a shower but this thing was hanging over head. It is not unusual to see several hawks or turkey vultures around.
It looks wonderful Michele. Love the color the trees are turning to also. Hang in there kiddo...keeping you in my prayers :-)
Standing by the pond, this is the view from across the yard. The mound of dirt is waiting to be spread by the pond. I made great use of the loader and left piles where I knew I would need more dirt, without wasting time shaping the beds and spreading cardboard.
You can see the maple tree is dotted with newly planted bare root hosta and the long beds across the way. I think it is starting to look like something!
Hi Vic! I am starting to be able to see the houses of two neighbors. LOL Aren't the trees pretty! I guess I better start planning for compost beds. Looks like I'll have plenty of leaves! See your babies in there?
I piled the old nasty clay in here about a foot tall and wide then sloped it to help keep water from the house. It was low all around the house. Then I went back and filled in about 5 feet wide with good soil. I put every shade plant I had from my other house in there plus a bunch from the lovely Vic herself! :)
I can't wait to see it all fill in. I am hoping ferns will like me at this house. I have always wanted to grow ferns!
I guess that is it for today's slide show! Tomorrow I plan to dig up a bunch more plants in between doing loads of laundry. It looks like Saturday will be another plantathon. Anybody dying to work? hehehhe
Wow, I've been following your threads and you've made such amazing progress!!! I can't wait to see it all next year.
Did I read somewhere along the way that you had the top soil mixed to your specifications?? If so, where did you get it...from a landscaper, nursery, contractor... I ask because I've got all clay and tons of rocks myself and am beating myself to death with the tiller just to get amendments dug in. DH did help with one bed by borrowing a backhoe from a neighbor and "chunking up" a bed where I had already killed the grass with roundup, made an amazing difference when I tilled that one. However, just being able to pile on some really good top soil would make things so much quicker.
Vicki
It is a LOT quicker but I have to warn you, it costs a good deal of money too. LOL I guess everyone would not necessarily get 60 yards delivered but you are still looking at $300-400 per truckload delivered. I thought I would be blunt up front before you consider taking the easy way. :) I also had to compensate for land that sits wet in the spring.
Any landscaper should be able to tell you where to get dirt. You may also check with a tool rental place or someone that does not actually sell dirt. They tend to tell you who THEY would use.
Badseed, I guess when I move I am going to have to drive up and see you and bring you a basket full of presents. You have been so helpful with all my questions. Even some I didn't have the chance to ask yet. LOL.
Ferns, is there a big difference in the one that are growing wild in the woods and the ones from a nursery. Reason being I have them everywhere on the property in the wooded area. Some that are a foot tall and others that are more like 5' tall. Some are dark green others are reddish colored. I even saw one that was green with red veins. Really pretty. If there is no difference and you want some I would be glad to send them to you when I get there. You should know by then if they are going to like you or not. LOL
I'm still learning too. I think we all are. :) I like to share how I do things and if they work or not. I figure it helps somebody.
I'd have to bet the ferns you have there would have to be house plants here. You have a much better climate than I do. Brat! LOL
Chele,
I love the updates , dont quit posting them.I look everyday to make sure I dont miss anything..LOl
You sure have ben busy, back when I was in my 30s I too had a lot of energy , now at 57 and 2 strokes plus 3 mini strokes in between, I am much much slower. If only you could bottle and sell your energy you would be rich in no time.LOL
You have done wonders with your new place.
If your get finished with your 7 ac. and want to tackle my 33 ac.Come on down.LOL
Elva
This message was edited Oct 20, 2005 10:01 PM
Who could get tired of your threads, it's the best novel I have read lately. LOL!
I bought some crushed rock to fix around the greenhouses & such.
$400 + for 2 loads, ouch. 2 years ago it was $120 per load.
You should just buy those "tools" & rent them to other people. You would become the payee instead of the payer. And play at your will!
Your farm is sure looking good. Should be fabulous next summer.
Your new neighbors should be real happy to have you there. It's always nice when someone moves in that is caring.
The girls look happy. My granddaughter, who is 2½, has discovered tractor rides. Either on the riding lawn mower or the big tractor. If your girls figure that out, you will be giving rides to no end!
We found a closout of plants yesterday, 3½" pots of annuals for 10¢ each. We spent a whole $5. There was New Guinea Impatiens, Aspargus Fern & some Vinca Vine. We can take cuttings & multiply!
I am going back for more tomarrow, shrub roses are $1 each in a gallon pot. This is big box over buying!
Have a great day!
Bernie
Thanks Elva!
Hey, be careful what you say. I am a person with extreme zone envy and married to someone with arthritis! You might find us in a tent in the back yard. LOL I could landscape with bananas and elephant ears and be quite happy!
Whoopsie Bernie, you sneaked in there! I have a bunch of variegated vinca vine I am thinking of taking just for the pot and window box factor. LOL It is a happy perennial here. Will it not over winter for you? I have also grown asparagus ferns from seed. I'd love to get hold of some of those foxtail ones!
I kind of luck out, having the 12 year old. I won't let her turn the mower on but she is allowed to give them rides around the yard. It is constant entertainment for all of them. Last weekend Mystic was at my house and my eldest was pointing out plants to the little ones like they gave a doodle. It was quite funny. If I ever need a tour guide... I think you need a 12 year old!
Better keep that wallet in your pocket big guy. ;)
Keep the updates coming, Michele! Tell me about putting dirt around your big shade trees and about the tree roots. I have always thought that you couldn't add a thick layer of soil and plants around an old established tree because it might smother the roots, or something like that. Are there any secrets? (I have two huge shade trees in front, a native red oak and a live oak, that I would like to underplant but have been afraid to do so).
Terrie
Thanks for the info. Yep, I knew it'd be big $$$. LOL, I don't think I'd need 60 yds at one time, I'm not under the pressure you are. I'm lucky that I don't have any areas that really stay wet, we're on a hill so our biggest problem is the run off wanting to cut ruts everywhere. Over the years the run off has carried away a lot of the topsoil, that's one of the 1st things we starting trying to correct when we bought the place, it's not nearly so bad now. I'll have to call some of the landscapers in Lexington, maybe they can give me some contacts.
Badseed, so glad you started a new thread and thoroughly enjoyed the photos. When i was young I would have been so happy to have access to "your mechanical toys", weren't available at that time. So most of my garden work was by wheelbarrow and shovel. Think that is how I wore out my hip joints.
Love the photo of your darling little blondies. Your yard/farm is coming along just great. Can't wait till next spring and summer to see them then.
Hope you can get ferns going for you. I had a lot at the other place, but here had no shade and very alkaline soil, so havent tried ferns yet..
Take care and take lots of photos. I am sending my Christmas gift from last year, Nikon Cool Pix 4800 back today. There is something wrong as a big shadow shows on lower left (I think the shutter doesn't completely open) and the center of the photo is many times quite fuzzy. It is still under warannty.
DonnaS
Those are some mighty cute little tow headed kidlets you have there! They look like keepers to me!
Keep up the photos. My camera got wet, which ruined it totally. Word to the wise. I'm living vicariously.
By the way, Michelle, don't want to make you jealous, but I have my own cement mixer. And it's red, too! Plus, it's electric! LOL I thought I was the only tool lover!
I have a cement mixer and use it to mix soil for pots etc. Love IT!!
DH has an electric cement mixer too. I can't even list all the power tools DH's accumulated. He built our deck, which impressed even me, (it took two years) and needed it for footings for the deck. This is when it was almost done.
Very, very nice! You better keep him. :)
Hubby keeps telling me I ought run to Harbor Freight and pick one up. I was grouching the whole time I mixed about 1000 pounds of potting mix myself. LOL
LOL I've considered using ours as one of those rotating mulch mixers, but DH wouldn't let me.
Aw.. if it can handle concrete it can handle mulch! lol (instigater)
We were just there looking at them Chele.
Forget that little sale goober unless you're mixing sleeves. lol
There is a nice gas hog though.
That would probably be better for you than the electric one.
MAN that's a DECK!
GREAT job!
Ric
Wait, Michele! Your dh told you to go get a powered toy and you didn't? And you will have a huge use for one when you have that nursery, think of all the potting mixes you can offer!
mg
Chele likes power tools that she can ride.. lolol.. maybe if it were a cement "truck"...
Now isn't that a scary thought!
mg
Yeah, he did a super job, and mostly alone. Still won't let me compost in the ceeement mixer though.
Lol Chele, you can come anytime tent or no tent , lets see with my 2 girls plus your 6 than you and I WOW we will out number the men folk only your DH and mine. 10 againest 2
sounds fair to me. Plus I get 6 grandkids. and gain a daughter and son in law .. here I am 57 years old and not a granny yet ? But I can have 6 at once sounds real good to me.So when are you moving down ? I darn ya !!!!!!!!!
Elva
We have a small electri one we bought at Northern Tool & Equipment Company. Around $200. Works great for mixing soil.
Bernie
You could put it in a plastic barrel and let the kids push it around. LOL
