I know how ya feel...Tir_.....our HOA is real strict about havin' that same peas in a pod sort of look for the neighborhood. I was leary about pullin' up all of the weird shrubs that the contractors put in when we closed on the house...lol, actually pulled em up a few at time and slid some real natives in when no one was lookin'...We haven't had any problems with our HOA tho....but I know some neighbors have...esp when one guy stained his fence a bright red, lol. Now I love red, don't get me wrong...my living room is mostly red....but a fence that color? I mean....RED.
As far as the landscapin' .....I never really worry too much about what they think. I've never sent in that form thingy that they ask you to send in when you're going to make a change around the place. Course, I haven't made any MAJOR renovations in the front yard either. But I really want to...at least 75% of it being flat limestone and pea gravel. And our yard is reeeal small....now in the back yard, well...thats different... *ahem* ;)
Texas heat
The HOA's will have to ease up, and the sooner the better. Our subdivision looks really nice, but with Stage One restrictions now in effect, it may not be that way much longer. My front yard is not large, and I have nothing growing there but the St. Augustine the builder put in. Minimum maintenance, but I'm in compliance. The backyard is mine! When I moved in almost ten years ago, I wanted to install a cistern, but was turned down even though it wouldn't be visible from the street. I now have an okay for four large rain barrels, so that's my next project.
One way to try to lessen the severity of the HOA decrees is to run for openings on the Board of Directors. Beyond that, we need to organize a movement to gain more flexibility in the rules that HOAs can exert. Yuska
Yuska,
Where are you getting your rain barrels? I'm trying to find something a bit cheaper than I have been getting and closer so I don't have to pay postage.
Yeah, if someone could find rain barrels at a reasonable price, PLEASE post it! I've had my gutter downspouts shortened and have trash cans under them. (I put in mosquito dunks so I'm not endangering the 'hood.) Of course, down here it's a lot more swampy and I would be surprised if we had to ration, but from what I hear (and I plan to get on that website and find out) they're wanting to divert our water to facilitate Austin! The more we mess it up, the worse it's going to be! And don't get me wrong -- I love Austin and one of my sons lives there. But haven't we learned yet about upsetting the balance?
On the bright side, maybe the world WILL end in 2012! ;D
It isn't ONLY because of water rationing that a person would want rain barrels. You would be amazed at how much cheaper your water bill is when you use the rain barrels for everything that you usually water by hand with a little nozzel. I know I have gained back in the last 3 years everything I ever did pay for the rain barrel. But it sure would be nice if it took less time for it to even out. So spending less is good anyway you look at it.
I agree! We're not at a loss for water here in the swamps of the Sabine Neches valley. I like to water with rain water because it's SO much better for the plants. When it's scarce, I'll fill buckets with tap water and let it sit out a day or two to boil out the chlorine, but it's still not as good.
And I was working outside in the rain a week or so ago, and my hair got entirely rinsed by the rain angels, and it was SO SOFT! Oooh, it makes you wonder what all really is in the stuff they pipe into the house, doesn't it?
Re barrels - I'm still shopping. I want really big ones. A couple of years ago I had a lead on a Canadian company that offered 135 gallon units but can't find the link just now. Cost is a concern, of course, and shipping and installation will be significant, but I am determined to save the trees. (Have already lost a Santa Rosa plum.)
Earlier this year I had to pay $650 to have a special regulator installed on the intake line. The pressure per square inch was 105 and kept blowing out the outdoor spigots, which of course skyrocketed my bills. Heaven forbid that a pipe in the slab floor should rupture. The water co. keeps the pressure high to push the supply to subdivisions farther on out, some of which aren't even in the city limits. I asked if I could have some sort of financial adjustment for this expense but thus far haven't been able to get a response.
Yuska, they have nothing to lose by leaving it the way it is. You'll probably have to get pretty squeaky to get heard. Good luck to you.
I'm still doing research on the barrels as well. It's not SO much the money (though of course I'd rather spend less than more) but I've seen them with less capacity than my current trash cans for about $150! I can put a screen on top and a spigot at the bottom for a lot less than that! If I find a good deal, I'll post it.
wow... you should be where I am... pressure is way LOW... I have to have special shower heads to get a good stream to wash my hair with.
I don't want something as big as 135 gallons at this time. But let me/us know what you find if you would.
best deal I have found is a little under 100.00. I will find the place and post the link.
wow look what I just found!
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=rain+barrel
This message was edited Jul 21, 2006 10:31 AM
Thanks, renatelynne. I found one for about $99 but it was 34 gallons, I think. Where would one look for a 55 gallon foodgrade barrel? I can turn it into a rain barrel. Though one of those blue plastic things would look truly ugly out front! :P
Yea but with the new plastic spray paint you can paint it any color.
we posted at the same time -- that looks like a GREAT deal!
Our water pressure is fierce out here in Converse...all the new neighborhoods but not enough people using the system yet so the pressure is high, popped our soaker hose system on timer for the veg garden off it's nozzle! LOL. We bought a pressure regulator thing for the yard.
TxT, I don't turn in the HOA forms anymore either! It's all subcontracted to one outside lady (mtg soon about nominating 1 board of director) until the neighborhood builds up. Used to turn in the forms, took waaaaay to long for a response, I mean the plants you'd wanted to buy and put in are no longer in season? Come on! Then I'd get refused on some things (trees planted in the median between curb and sidewalk).....yet I've got a couple neighbors who've been brave and put in the xeriscaping and ROCK lawns in this no-plant area!!!! Been there a year and seen them not have to take it out? So now I put in what I want...within reason. Don't want to do something I was "banned" to do. Be an interesting mtg to say the least =), hehe, lots of disgruntled residents. My front is itty bitty to but the back is generous sized, just not private yet.
Yuska, wish I was lucky to put whatever I want in my backyard! I'm on a U shaped street and in the center of the U on the CORNER no less. So the side view of my backyard is the front yard view for like 4 homes. Sure hoping those red maples will grow up soon so I can have some privacy! I'll install a tree island along that side in the back soon as well. We aren't even supposed to plant anything 5' to the property lines.
I've done lots of things without asking though: shutters, storm door, new lantern garage lights, staining fence, new front sidewalk, painted 3 sides of house from cream to salmon (to match the front brick), etc. No comments on that. Got told to water my lawn once after having just moved in and builder let it get brown. *sigh. Just can't win!
I'm in the same boat. The HOA says I can't plant near the road BUT they say I have to maintain it? WHAT?
I sprinkled suculant and wildflower seeds all over the place there! *giggle Now I just get to wait until they fuss at my forest of flowers!
Well I went ahead and ordered two more... the 35.00 ones with 20.00 postage. I can connect each one to the ones I already have... use for overflow. These two with postage cost nearly less than the last one I got.
lol Tir_...what a rebel ya are... :D Naw...no problems here either, like I said...and....speaking of ripping up shrubs, but...shhh......I JUST ripped up the last one.. and put in my dynamite myrtle...I'll see if I can transplant the other odd lookin' thing that they put in..
I've got an itty bitty yard too..in the front...and the back is a decent size, which is fine since I don't have any children or pets. I reckon allll of my plants are my wee ones..lol :) Thank goodness we have no houses up against our back fence...just the old crispy cow pasture and a huge electric tower that they'll never be able to build under. I feel for those folks across the subdivision who's fences hug each other all the way around. We can sit on our porch and enjoy the constant wind and the howl of coyotes all year around. :) And my visitin' screech owl, of course.. :)
This is our little front porch.. :) As I was tellin' a fellow DG'r....and you know who ya are....lol...this is my favorite place to sit when the sun goes over the horizon...just to watch the world go by... :)
No wonder you enjoy it... It looks so peacefull
Great American Rain Barrels. About 55gal. The more you buy they get cheaper up to a point. Maybe someone could start a co-op.
http://www.composters.com/docs/rainbarrels.html#ga
It is interesting.
I pump my water from a creek but I still use one for mixing, making compost tea
http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/PI/rainbarrels.htm
This site has interesting info but there stuff is high:
http://www.composters.com/docs/rainbarrels.html
I bet you'll knew this stuff lol. Jus showing off huh!
Info from here:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=rain+barrel&btnG=Search
edit here
hey scoolie
Haha your message, post come in while I was typing mine.
Great minds.
This message was edited Jul 21, 2006 12:19 PM
Nada, It IS indeed peaceful....but the back porch is even more so.. :)
Scoolie, the people who make the Great American Rain barrel sell them directly on Ebay for even cheaper - I saw them in nada's link above. I sent my husband a link to the black unpainted ones. They are $40 for 1, $70 for two, plus $25 each shipping.
The subject was "Christmas", but hopefully I'll get them sooner than that. :) We don't have gutters in the back so that would have to be part of the cost. They have 100% positive reviews.
Txt, I love your front porch. It looks very relaxing.
Staci, those are better prices. Have you seen the ones that are shaped like big urns? They would look very nice if you were putting them out front. Not sure if G.A.R. makes them or someone else.
Well, the HOA would probably freak if I put them out front. I do have one area I'd like to put one on the left front corner of the house. Right now it would be seen from the front, but maybe I can put a bush in or some latice with an evergreen vine. There is already a gutter that comes down in that corner. It would be the perfect place for access to water, because my front yard water spigot is on the right side of the house and I have to drag the hose accross the driveway and porch to water the left side. My 50 foot coil hose does not even reach so I stretch it and aim.
TxT,
You are always so fun to talk with. =) I love your porch! So envious over here...no porch or deck or patio....you must have a DR Horton, they are pretty good! We have an Obra Home which is nice but no exterior upgrades (landscaping, porches, etc) just inside upgrades. I hope to put a covered porch 12x12' off the back with a patio around the base of it....someday! More than anything I'd like the perimeter of my backyard to look like a forest so I have privacy! Can't on 1 side (the only side I have neighbor on) because we put the veg garden there, to be right outside the back door....I have a thread asking for suggestions on a privacy screen if anyone can help me with ideas!
I like the ideas for rain barrels you guys are using. DH was so sure he wanted some and I poo-poohed the idea thinking it would be to much trouble hauling the water from it around and then it sitting stagnant, etc. But I think with the water needs going on it is a valiant and worthwhile effort. Thanks for the links on barrels!
you don't have to alway lug the water around. With the spigit on the bottom you put a hose on it and take the hose with a soaker ball to where you want water. wa la... water. It is slow cuz it only uses the pressure of the water to force out the water but slow is fine.
Oh how cool! Thanks for telling me!
Here's a pic of the one I was talking about. Put a few plants around it and the HOA wouldn't know the difference that it wasn't a piece of garden art.
lol sweezel, I know how ya feel.... my front yard spigot is on the left side of the house and all of my plants are on the right side near the porch... I always have to be careful that I don't trample anything when I water...and thanks, sweezel...I love my porch too... :) I have a huge Madagascar Palm in a pot which you can see in the photo. I actually had to move it...because salesmen and kids were poking their fingers on it, thinking it was fake..lol :o
Its HOT out there...phew...humidity must be @ 90%....
lol Tir_.....how did ya know I was in a DR Horton home...? lol...Yah...I live over here in Wildhorse off of Braun. I probably moved over here just because I loved living in a place called "Wildhorse." lol... We were lucky in that we got both yards sodded with Bermuda and 2 live oak younglings. We chose a plan that would definitely allow me to have a front porch tho we paid an arm and a leg for the back one. I spend about 98% of my day off from work outdoors, coming from a family who always sat outside in the evenings and gibberjabbered about life and gardening. :) So that front porch was real important to me.. :)
lol...You're oodles of fun to talk with yourself, Tir_.....Come to think of it...DG is oodles of fun....lol :D
I love your rain barrel, scoolie!
Wish I could get a rain barrel myself....it'd definitely have to go to the back. We don't have gutters...which is unfortunate...but too expensive to put up right now..
Actually TXt you would be supprised at how much it doesn't cost. I had ONE side of my studio/garage done up so I could have a water barrel behind it. It cost me 124.00 for the gutters and enough comes off the roof in a rain to fill the barrel easly.
How well does the water sit tho? It doesn't get mucky or mesquito-y? lol... :D
I think what I'm going to do for the mosquitos is throw in a few comet fish. They can survive almost any conditions, they thrive on the larvae, and the rain water would be that much more fertile. Most likely won't rinse my hair with it, though.
have screens for mesquitos. it's clean water. so far it always comes out looking like water. *giggle.
Oh, that is pretty Scoolie. It does look like a ceramic urn. That's a possiblity.
Scoolie,
Just beautiful!!! Love the "urn" water barrel! Both of my gutters end on each side yard and both are fenced in so the look isn't a problem here but with something so attractive available I'd just shoot for one like yours!
TxT,
How'd I know it was DR? Hehe, I am a house hunting nut! I love to drive through historic neighborhoods but when I was looking to buy almost 2 years ago it just made way more sense to buy new (same prices, could do all my own landscaping the way I want, no repairs or remodeling to do, house warrenty, etc) so I looked at LOTS of new home builders just by internet and catalog. I found mine way out here in the sticks off 1604 in Converse. I live outdoors myself but don't frequent the backyard near what I'd like since no privacy, shade or porch (YET!)
Brigid,
GREAT IDEA on fish in the rain barrels!
We keep an aerator from the Petsmart in our rain barrels. In one of them we have compost tea brewing at all times, the other we have alfalfa tea aerating. The other 2 just have plain rain water in them and they have lids so no mosquitoes. We are going to add a cystern (hopefully 5000 gal) as soon as we find a place of honor for it. I need to find an artist around here to do some handy work on it so it won't be so ugly. In Dripping Springs they had an artist paint theirs to look like an animal and it's really cute. My girlfriend had that done when the library was being built. Makes for cute landscaping. I just want to be prepared because I DON'T want to lose anymore trees due to lack of rainfall or neglect. If I have a chance at all of keeping my garden, I'll give up anything to do so. I learned a long time ago, shopping just filled up my closet w/stuff that ended up at Goodwill by years end anyway. Now I spend my money in the garden, have fewer (and cuter) clothes, and am so much happier to be w/out all the clutter. A pair of shoes can buy me alot of plants/gloves/etc. Same w/the cystern. I figure a few nights of eating out in nice places will cover the cost and I'll be much happier in the long run. Besides, I have a great place to cook, and I love salads anyway in the summer.. So, refigure your budget and you'd be surprised how much you can trim off so you can get those rain barrels. They are worth their weight because the rain water is so wonderful on the plants. They really perform well.
hilary
Hilary, you are one smart cookie!!! Congratulations on all your good ideas.
Josephine.
yup hilary...you are one smart gal....if you garden....you don't need clothes anyway....(he he)....just one outfit and that is all!!!!