It Ain't Junk

I decided this would be my cool day project after push mowing through the morning. Dad fenced the yard to keep the livestock out.  After many years sections are gone but I like to keep pieces of what was.  

I began to tear it down before my before pictures.  I had to tackle all the honeysuckle and Virginia creeper while I was working on the fence.

Dad and Mom built three rails of split posts.  There were two large gates in other spots and one walk in swinging gate here.

I decided to try and reinforce and straighten the posts while doing only two rails since it is only "decorative" now.

 After a lot of sweating

hammering and bleeding

I'm 

calling

it finished.

Fern Bed Finished!

I actually ashamed of the before.  The rains have been good and I have been inattentive.   The Before

and the after.

I do like junk so now it's yard art.

The white crystal rocks came from Mt. Ida.

My vacation rocks from the South West.

Yep, that's where we went.

There were signs everywhere

"Do not take the rocks"

Yo comprenda English!

Yes, Alex, I have a sink in my fern bed!

 I have an entire bathroom in my yard.

The spout runs water over more great rocks

in the sink

then sends the water to my ferns..

 Acabado!

Another Project...

Before I began

You can read the story about the beginning of this water garden here.  It has quite a history.  After trimming all the unwanted and beginning another pile, I had to empty the garden to clean it.  It has been awile since I have had the time to attend to this properly.

I found some old friends

and a new one.

The turtle was not happy.

Empty of all things, clean

and refill.  All rocks replaced.  Pickerel and Parrot Grass planted.  It will be crystal clear tomorrow.

Off to find more rocks.

I love jobs like this!



Getting Closer...

Never plant Honey Suckle where you want anything else to grow.  It has claimed everything. Fair warning:  When trying to pull up Honey Suckle vines, WEAR GLOVES.  I had to let my hands heal to finish. Remember what it did look like.

The choking growth of the HS made the Hibiscus spindly and almost choked the House Leak to death.  The drought had thinned the ground cover but I do believe it has a chance of becoming the beauty it once was.

Still have to thin water plants and have that one spot around the Asian Lilies to clean.  Yep, more Honey Suckle.  I don't remember planting it but then I forget some things.

Beginning to see Dad's rocks again.  This garden was built for him mostly from his rock collection.  We have added Mount Ida crystals and others finds to make it a family water garden.

On this day we got some rain.

From Tuesday through Saturday is how long it took this soft, office girl to get this finished.  I tried not to work in the 110 heat index so I could only work mornings.  I'm calling it finished.  The lilies are repotted, the Honey Suckle and Golden Rod have been banned along with whatever water plant that was that had filled the garden. I have allowed Parrot Grass, Bog Bean and Arrow Plant to remain with my lilies.

And, yes, that is a toilet tank by my bench.  I have planted House Leak in there.  I have washed rocks, waded knee deep with what I hoped was frogs bumping into my legs and have pulled every weed I could find.  It's through!!! My back was aching, my hands a wreck, my bare feet soaked and wrinkled but I'm done!!!! 

My second job awaits.  This fig Dad planted years ago provides us with all the figs we can eat.  It have been attacked by the Wisteria.  My next job will be to remove the wisteria so the fig can grow healthy again.

You may wonder why I have so many jobs backed up and waiting.  With Hubby's illness in the past two year things have gotten ahead of me.

Welcome to my retirement At The Farm.