We had someone from Cobb County come out to check out the culvert in our front yard. There are actually two huge pipes. One is filled with dirt. We were hoping Cobb County would clean it out, so that the water would flow further away from our front yard (in the culvert/pipe furthest from our house). When they came out, they told us the one further away from us is actually meant for back-up only. Not a huge deal. They did clean it out. When they visited, they asked about a string Doug had tied between two pieces of wood, from one end of our house to the other end. When I told the Conunty guys about the eventual plans for the retaining wall, he ended up putting Doug in touch with the right people to get the ball rolling. We had to submit the info to the county, the county had to submit it to the state. We had to be approved to begin the work as the wall lies within the 25 foot buffer of a waterway in Georgia. Yes, our little "trickle". :-) (We're technically not even supposed to weedwhack, since it is in a protected "buffer" area).
All of the submissions / approvals happened. We then had to put an ad in the local paper advising of our plans, so all neighbors would know about it. (They could inquire about it, if they wanted, but the state already approved the plans). Last Friday, we received the official approval letter from the DNR, advising we're good to proceed. We can now pull the permit to get the ball rolling. Wa-hoo! So we will finally get to use the huge pile of railroad timbers that are neatly stacked (and tarped) in our back yard. Hopefully they go a long way...they weren't cheap!
All that to say, I have done MINIMAL gardening this year, knowing that most of our money will be used to install this wall, and knowing that we might have to tear up landscaping anywhere near that side of the yard.
I do have my collection of containers in which I have gardened in the past. They're an eyesore (I think some might think so) and I'm sure my neighbors just LOVE seeing them. So, I decided a visual barrier was just the ticket. I put in eight double knock-out roses and 16 "Fragrant Return" daylilies this past weekend. I left a little entry-way "gap" in between, in which I hope to eventually add fieldstone or some sort of flat stone.
While cleaning out behind the pots, I tried to pull out some HUGE weeds. I had ONE LAST WEED left and tried to stabilize myself by putting my foot down behind the pot. Big mistake. I stepped on a yellowjacket bee's nest. They let me know they didn't appreciate my arriving unannounced. ;-) I got stung once on the foot (wearing sandals) and ran away like a banshee. I'm normally not a runner when it comes to situations like this, but they were pretty stirred up! A bee followed me. I ran again. A bee followed me yet again. I ran some more. They left me alone after that. Or should I say I left THEM alone? Doug killed the nest with the remaining hornet killer we had. I was SO glad I wasn't stung more than once!
In the pots, I did plant some heirloom tomatoes (Rutgers, Celebrity, Beefsteak, Beefmaster, Mortgage Lifter, Cherokee Purple, Sweet 100 and a few others), jalapenos, Carolina Wonder bell pepper, a burpless cucumber, strawberries and some other things I can't remember right now. Our little fig tree made it through the winter, so hopefully we'll see some fruit from it again.
Peace, love and hitting them where it counts... the BEE'S KNEES!
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam
This year's mystery plant. I thought I planted seeds last year. It turns out they were bulbs. These are the leaves of amaryllis, although I didn't know it when this picture was taken!
Hello, Newman! Staying far away from this poison ivy. I have not had to deal with a poison ivy rash this year, like I did last year (three times!)
Amaryllis in bloom.
The finished product, after adding 8 Double Knock-Out Roses and 16 Fragrant Return daylilies. I would say the pots are camoflauged, for the most part.
The left side.
The right side.
The yellowjacket bee's nest I stepped on... :( You can see the dead bees if you look closely!
The containers are visible only when you get close to the garden itself.
I left the gap as an entryway, in which I hope to put stone one day.
Lilies of the valley.
My Grandma Nila had these in her front yard. I love these.
I just have to find somewhere to put them, until we get all of this landscaping business sorted out....
Had to pull out the amaryllis in order to put in the knock-out roses.
I'm sure I will find somewhere fun to put these, too.
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