I hate these "McLandscaping Things"

Please forgive me if you like them but Gaaa..... I can't wait to get rid of them..... all in all, I think we have around 300 of them. We just bought this foreclosure and the "things" came with the house.... I feel like the house was ugly enough with lots of work to be done without having to mess with the "McRocks"..... I've planted some small things to try and divert attention from the "extruded from a concrete truck and dumped into stupid mould shaped wedges with alternating gray and red dye drops"....... sorry..... I have rheumatoid arthritis in my back and I just finished moving 20 of the "things" from around the tree..... I'd rather have those sort of flat, natural rocks if anything......

OK....... I'm shutting up now...... whew..... I feel better.

Here's a close up......OK..... now I really am going to shut up.....hehehe....

They wouldn't be so bad if they matched. If you don't want them, I can take them off your hands! hehe I would use them to line some nice beds.

What would you use in their place? Would you just take down the retaining walls?

They look like they're in good shape. You could probably sell them on Craigslist and have the buyers come out and haul them away so you don't have to move them. Then you could buy some more natural looking stones to put around your bed. Our beds have uneven rocks around them, too, and we really like them.

Oh my goodness, what some people wouldn't give for a house like yours!!!
The different colors of the stones are a little distracting, but the beds look nice, you could replace the stones you don't like and have something more harmonious.

If you plant things that grow taller than the bricks, then you don't have to worry about it!!

Plant some creeping Junipers to cover them up - BEAUTIFUL!

Oh.... you're all so sweet and funny.... I needed this!

My husband SAID: "Hey, let's put them in the back yard and build a vegetable garden.... you know, with the economy being like it is we might be glad to have it"

My husband MEANT: "Hey, why don't you put them in the back yard and build a vegetable garden... you know, so I can come home to one of those "grandma's Sunday dinners" every day after work"

I SAID: "Yeah, that's a great idea....it'd be really fun to grow our own veggies, honey!

I MEANT: "Sure thing Einstein..... you're outta your ******* mind if you think I'm gonna haul anymore McRocks to build some kind of vegetable garden in my back yard..I've never so much as seen even a ray of sun back there....oh yeah, while the neighbors are lounging around in their "Disney World Water Park" backyards they can watch me between the fence slats plucking my one anemic green bean and 3 marble-sized new potatoes... sure thing ***hole!

(Gosh, I hope you know I'm kidding)..... Annette, I think we'd just take away the walls and slope the area with real rocks around it.....I like the Craigslist idea, Marylyn, and yes, something more natural looking.... Hubby laughed when he read to just plant taller things.... thanks, Stephanie! Kay, I do love those Junipers and, who knows, once they're cooked down, might look like a pot of greens, too! Frostweed, you're right and we're actually so happy to have this home..... the truth is, it has a courtyard in the front (something I've always wanted) and some wonderful features I'd never thought to pray for...I just had a hunch that you guys would come through with some good ideas and I'd get to talk to some fun people today.....I got both....you guys are great!

oxoxo's
Beth

Isn't it wonderful how hubbies are SO helpful in suggesting more work you could do on top of everything else you already do on a daily basis! Mine I probably shouldn't ever allow near a nursery. Sometimes he picks out plants that I have absolutely no place to put and they sit there in their pots for long periods of time, silently judging me every time I see them. Somehow the concept that I'd have to have a fence extended (long planned, never done) out onto the property and put in deep raised beds...somehow...to cover all that caliche and rock and then water them somehow although far from any faucet never crosses his mind. He who never would even pick up a hose to help water even before he became disabled.

Bless you Linda.

Solitear,
I got a good laugh out of your post! I am very lucky in that my husband is very handy and willing to do (or try to do) some of the crazy ideas I come up with. Of course I am a hands on person too and we are both retired so that helps. We both have lists of projects that we want to do and there is no way we will ever get them all done. And we are continually expanding the lists!
Bonnie

I was just doing the same thing you were, Beth...just blowing off steam! It helps sometime. I love DH, but not having help around here can wear me down. When I was sick with migraine recently, I would have loved to have someone to take charge. But there's always many others worse off.

Hey Everyone..... you're all great! I wanted to post the latest pic of our work last weekend.... Hubby power washed the driveway and sidewalk while I moved the McLandscaping rocks and added a few plants, big ol' lava rock and some dark elephant ears..... it's getting better but am pretty sure I'm taking another layer of the "rocks" off the area...... thanks for your help and laughs!

oxox
Beth

That looks great Beth, good work.
Josephine.

I love my "McLandscaping rocks"; so you wouldn't like my yard at all Beth. LOL!!. I have them in the front, and back yards, and I also have a retaining wall or two built with them. I chose the terra cotta color by Pavestone mfg. and don't regret it.

I think you have improved upon what you had from previous owner, for sure! Like someone else mentioned, those multicolor stones screamed look at me....instead of seeing the plants. Those are some very expensive stones and I am sure you could sell them if you decide you still don't like them. BTW, I sure love your pine trees!! LOL!

Beth, what kind of tree is that? Please, be careful not to let the soil line get too low on it or it may die!!!

Now, the look is great! & if you ever just don't need them ole rocks, I'll make the trip to come get them out of your hair!!! lol I'm a pack rat for useable gardening items! B/c of Ike, my Ins pd me over $5k for the shed that only houses my plant "stuff". It should be repaired in the next 3 days!! Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not that I get into your town often, what side of the Metro, do you live?
:~)

What a vast improvement! I think if the pavers had all been one color the original look may not have been quite so bad. You can always offer the ones you've removed on Freecycle. The person who wants them will come haul your pile away!

what a beautiul transformation.

I especilaly enjoyed the he said(thought)/she said(thought) exchange. We ahve all been there with our spouses!

Lizzy

These are very old pictures and fuzzy, but this is where we began.

2004 with rotting landscape timbers.

This is what we were able to achieve ourselves with the landscape stones. They make beautiful graceful curves, etc. and a strong lasting retaining wall. We even added a set of stairs (upper right).

Finished look.

So what did you do with the rocks?

That looks great Sheila, I am going to have to come by and see your yard again.
Josephine.

Yes you are Josephine, it has changed so much since you and Mitch were here before.
Shuggins....if you are asking me about those cobblestones that were on the walking surface, we increased the walls of the fish pond with them and still have loads left over for other projects. But you may be asking about those solitear pulled off of the walls.

Beth, you did a great job!! Beautifully done!
I live on 5-1/2 acres in the Conroe area, and let me tell you it's not easy finding edging when you are gardening/landscaping on at least 2 acres of it!
Wouldn't mind buying some of those McRocks off you!
Would glad trade some cannas (lots of them!) and/or a couple of precious female hound dogs (one basset, one blue tick beagle--both registered ;0)

Sheila...Yes, I was asked about the ones Solitear pulled off. Although I would love to have your yard and I really like the way you have it all set up.

Thanks! We have changed our mind about the shape of a bed on occassion and these stones allow us to dismantle and move with only the muscle expense. If you have noticed not many landscape timbers are around the box stores anymore. They were difficult to work with too. As long as you get your bottom row leveled the rest of these just stack like building blocks; I love them.
I don't think I would have liked what Solitear first had either, but they have improved upon that by taking the different colors away.

I like the Mc stones. I have them in my front yard, but like anything, too much of them is not too nice. You have both done a beautiful job.

Sheila, yours DO look good..... it's got to be that they're all the same color..... and (big drum roll) we've decided to KEEP THE McROCKS !!! Isn't that a hoot..... we're going to go to sleep and dream a brilliant plan for them in the back yard......

This is the unveiling of our landscaping.... so far. We pulled up the McRocks, graded the dirt and planted grass.... Aaaaaa..... it's so much calmer now without those rocks screaming "look at me"....

You've all made this such a blast and I thank you for your offers and suggestions... I'd love to think I'll be able to ask for more help along the way. Next on our list is new paint so that the top and bottom of the house are the same color.... I have a light, warm cream color in mind with ALL the wrought iron & shutters painted black.

Thank you all, again
oxoxox
Beth

Here's a close up of the little left side of the sidewalk....

And the Before picture....

Wow, Beth, you are doing great! What were the previous owners thinking? Yuck. I'm with you, the McRocks are hideous. Your yard will be a showplace before you know it.

In our neighborhood, you have to ask the HOA for permission to plant a blade of grass or install a rock. The loophole is, if the Architectural Committee does not respond to your request within 30 days (and they never do), you can go ahead and do it.

When we bought the most under-landscaped place in the neighborhood, our front yard had the required two McTrees, with grass growing right up to them, and a few nasty looking lilies. There was jasmine climbing up the porch columns. That was it! Not a single plant out back. My DH is wonderful about digging and hauling, and we are slowly transforming the property. I'll post some before and during (there is no after in gardening) pics when I figure out how!

(The neighbors offered to nominate me for sainthood but (a) I ain't dead yet; and (2) I'm mean as a snake!)

Peace,
~Kate

Beth, I think that's a great idea to change the white paint to something else! After looking at the before pics, there was this whole black vs. white thing with a vertical lines vs. horizontal lines thing that just wasn't working that well. Anything that can further soften up the vertical lines/horizontal lines would help...maybe break up the horizontal shrub lines a little more? Just a thought!

Beth, I just looked at your "before" enlargement. Whew! You did have your work cut out for you! The foundation plantings that block windows (hawthorne?) need to be replaced. Personally I'd look for variety in height within a family, such as juniper. Is that a functional balcony upstairs? What fun! Looks like the architect just couldn't put down the pencil. Such a rambly thing (I'd love it)! Can't wait to see what color(s) you choose to paint. The beige-and-white thing is just wrong. On the other hand, the bed you have installed by the driveway is wonderful! Carry on!

I am sure litlbit meant to say walkway; those are very attractive.
Beth...You have done a super job on calming the scenery for sure. But I do have to agree with the others the holly or hawthorne evergreen shrubs need to go. You can replace them with something that shows your personality like the other bed you did. I would even consider taking out the big over-sized tree if possible; and put in a 2 or 3 tier fountain that you can plant around. It would look great in front of the large wall next the house. I would definately see the house painting as a priority for you though as you said.
We had a lot of holly in the front of the house when we moved in. Kept it that way for a long time then decided to rip'em out! I have never regretted it. I put in some of the dwarf nandina that have color and stay small; most of all they aren't invasive like the large ones. I also used some dark pink spirea, and Fringe Flower shrubs. Of course with the flowers all blooming now, you can't see any of those! LOL! But they are visiable in the winter months.
Best of luck with the paint job.

Zone 8b; Heat Zone 9 on the shores of Lake Sam Rayburn, deep Southeast, TX
My back yard slants down toward the lake water's edge. In order to have a flower bed, I must use rocks to make a level planting area.

I see your front yard slants toward the street. The original owner had a good solution to a slanting terrain. I would have done the same. All that was necessary was to plant vineing plants along the edge to cover the rocks.

Thanks for sharing.........keep those hands dirty

Ohh looks much better!!! What was the previous owner thinking mixing like that. Our front yard we McRocked our lot slopes toward the house and since the flood on our street we used them to divert water.
I wish they make a more natural looking McRock ala McStone, Pavestone for some reason failed to consult us LOL
Eventually we would like to use Texas limestone for the walls time was not on our side at the time we did ours, would match the remainder of the stone on our home.

Your home has so much potential I personally love the black iron work a touch of New Orleans flavor. The part of the house that is on the right that is blank would look nice with something to fill it up and balance with the other half of the house. A nice trained Magnolia that is trillsed would be nice & thick with dark green foliage. Little Gem.

Sorry not to hijack....Sheila what part of FW do you live in??

Hey there cocobid....in SW, inside the loop. Dmail me so we don't get off track too much.

Sudie, rolling on the floor! "Keep those hands dirty!" PERFECT. I happen to be wearing a t'shirt at the moment that sports the legend: "I love to play in the dirt." You made me chortle and boy did I need it!
~Give Pizza Chants,
~Kate

lol...mc rocks....in the mc neighborhoods with the mc home association handing out
Mc Demerits.