CIty Life--Outdoor Living Edition

I enjoy digging in the dirt. There is something very soothing about doing a filthy job, like planting flowers or shrubs. Plus, since my default "clean" is other people's, "FILTHY!", there are certain jobs out there that suit me better than others. This is one of them.

I only mention my love of dirt because this week, the "Garden of Destiny" (GOD) took a big leap forward with the installation of a raised bed, as well as two new additions to the yard, namely a holly bush and a hydrangea. Here's pictures of the new GOD members:

(Holly, you are MOST welcome here!)

(I promise to be patient with you, as long as by year three we get fist sized hydrangeas. Deal?)

One of the best parts of only owning 100 square feet of outdoor space is that a little goes a long way. So, that means cheap folks like me can plant less without the yard looking like a dirt farm. Next steps, you ask? Some paver stones so we don't have to walk on mulch to get to the hose. The velogirl also spotted some dandy dark mulch that should match the stain I threw on the new porch I put in this year. Going to spread that as soon as the monsoon season stops. Not that the new plants don't LOVE it.

Also, the back patio project has also been moving forward this week. Phase one: cleanup has been completed, leaving us with a clean prison yard look:

(Abandon all hope, all ye who live inside the great gate)

Not for long, as I have also secured some new back fence panels. Huzzah!

(Pretty! And SO heavy!)

Once we get those babies up, and the 9 foot chain link fencing down, we are gonna have ourselves the makings of a back patio. The kind where I can actually invite people out there, instead of pulling the shades down on that side of the house and hoping nobody gets curious.

If all goes well, I SHOULD have all the projects listed above completed this weekend. Just in time for fall. (dry cough). Well, if we put some mums in...we could just tell the neighbors that we've always wanted to plant a fall garden.

And, I figure, as long as don't throw mattresses out into our alley, nothing we do can be as reviled as the guys who use the area behind our house for illegal dumping. Constantly.

(Garbage as FAR as the eye can see...sigh.)

Which reminds me, it's time for me to make my third call to 311 about that. DC, you really try my patience some times.