DISCLAIMER: Today's subtitle should be "Oh, What a Beautiful Mess." The stonemasons have come and gone ... where once there was only flat gray concrete, there are now beautiful flagstone patios. Pots, planters, shelves, moss rocks from the sidewalk borders and what my mother calls dec obs are scattered here and there about the garden, which is where the mess part comes in. Eager as I am to get things put back where they belong (not necessarily the same spots they were in before ... and I'm not telling whether that's because I want to redecorate or I can't remember!), I'll exercise patience. Grouting left a light haze on the flagstone, and the concrete needs a week to cure before my contractor is able to acid wash the flagstones.
The sidewalk that runs along the garage wall
Once again, I am in awe of Senors Isidro and Blas: Isidro is truly an artist when it comes to his craft. Time and again, I saw him thoughtfully considering which stone to use and how best to place it, carefully cutting it to make it fit his vision. That he and Blas did this in near record heat makes me even more appreciative of their efforts. My courtyard thermometer reached a high of 102 two days running, and it's always warmer in the sunny back gardens, so I know they had to be pretty miserable much of the time. The heat wasn't the only thing that got to them: like me, they were about ready to commit grievous harm to the mockingbird who sits on the telephone wires across the alley and sings literally ALL day long. This morning he started up at 2:45 A.M. and is merrily chortling away as I type. I don't want to hurt him ("it's a sin to kill a mockingbird") but I would definitely like to catch and relocate him so he could sing far, far away.
Meanwhile, the Head Gardener will not be unemployed while the concrete cures ... she began a new project in the courtyard last week. While the back gardens were occupied, she dug up the courtyard garden, dismantled the moss rock edging, and has been moving rocks around trying to decide on the design. Garden designer Mary Ann of Idahogardener has offered great advice: will the Head Gardener be able to simplify and repeat, as instructed? I'll let you know.
The kitchen patio
The bedroom patio
The sidewalk that runs along the garage wall
Once again, I am in awe of Senors Isidro and Blas: Isidro is truly an artist when it comes to his craft. Time and again, I saw him thoughtfully considering which stone to use and how best to place it, carefully cutting it to make it fit his vision. That he and Blas did this in near record heat makes me even more appreciative of their efforts. My courtyard thermometer reached a high of 102 two days running, and it's always warmer in the sunny back gardens, so I know they had to be pretty miserable much of the time. The heat wasn't the only thing that got to them: like me, they were about ready to commit grievous harm to the mockingbird who sits on the telephone wires across the alley and sings literally ALL day long. This morning he started up at 2:45 A.M. and is merrily chortling away as I type. I don't want to hurt him ("it's a sin to kill a mockingbird") but I would definitely like to catch and relocate him so he could sing far, far away.Meanwhile, the Head Gardener will not be unemployed while the concrete cures ... she began a new project in the courtyard last week. While the back gardens were occupied, she dug up the courtyard garden, dismantled the moss rock edging, and has been moving rocks around trying to decide on the design. Garden designer Mary Ann of Idahogardener has offered great advice: will the Head Gardener be able to simplify and repeat, as instructed? I'll let you know.
Comments
After buying a pair at World Market and putting one out in the courtyard, I decided that the red chairs were too much for the space. I'm on the lookout for some natural wood finish Adirondacks now!