Construction in the garden and other happenings
It was a one-two punch, seeing colorful stuccoed walls in Phoenix and Tucson in April and then in Portland in July. Unable to resist the siren song of structure, functionality, and color, I’ve hired a mason to build some walls in the back garden. Two days ago I moved the patio seating out of the way and am enjoying this temporary pond-viewing set-up.
Yesterday digging began for footings, and materials were brought in.
Here’s the plan. Two semicircular seat walls will curve around the small concrete patios at each end of the pool, providing structure and a safety measure; a couple of times people have almost pushed their chairs backward off the elevated patios. The seat walls will give us more seating when entertaining, and they’ll be an attractive backdrop in all seasons. I’m thinking of painting them an olive-khaki green. A 2-inch gap between the seat walls and the concrete patios will be filled with Mexican beach pebbles.
Along the back of the pool, where it curves inward, they’ll build a taller, free-standing, straight-line stucco wall, which I’ll paint a fun accent color (maybe rusty orange). I plan to plant grasses in front of it (maybe ‘Blonde Ambition’ grama) and will probably display an agave in a dish-planter atop it. It’ll be a focal point for an area that’s sorely in need of one.
Tighter flagstone paving will be laid in the foreground, eliminating a tripping hazard where different paving materials meet, and leading to steps into the lower garden.
I’m excited, nervous, and hopeful that it will turn out as I envision. Stay tuned for more, unless it ends up being a disaster, in which case I’ll be too busy gnashing my teeth and wailing to post anything.
In other news, the oxblood lilies (Rhodophiala bifida) are up, as red-coated and jaunty as the pirouetting Buckingham Palace guard.
I love this patch in front of a ‘Bright Edge’ yucca, their yellow stamens echoing the yucca’s stripes.
By the stock-tank pond, spider lilies (Lycoris radiata) are blooming at last. I planted these several years ago, and I think this is the first year they’ve bloomed. They can be slow to get going. I must remember never to disturb them.
After the recent rain, the tired, curled-leaf sweet almond verbena (Aloysia virgata) got a second wind. Now when I step outside on the deck, the sweet fragrance stops me in my tracks, and I must walk over for a deeper sniff.
During my sniff last evening I noticed dozens of Ailanthus webworm moths, which resemble narrow, orange-and-white beetles, nectaring on the flowers.
Honeybees too
I wish I could offer smell-o-vision for you to enjoy the sweet almond scent.
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Your wall plan sounds marvelous! I can’t wait to see more posts of in progress and finished work! What a nerve- racking and exciting time! Smell-o-vision would be grand but instead I’ll just imagine how wonderful your verbena must smell!
Nerve-wracking is right, Peter. Inviting any kind of construction into one’s garden is stressful (will they crush my plants?), but especially with a feature never tried before. My fingers are crossed! —Pam
I love the plans for your wall, and all the other changes. I hope they turn out just as you envision, but if they don’t maybe they’ll be even better. Such big changes to the garden can be exciting but also nerve-wracking.
Thanks for the good wishes, Alison. Here’s hoping! —Pam
How exciting! I love the painted stucco walls in the SW. I look forward to seeing the finished result : ) The Almond Verbena is looking good…I should use it more.
It’s a big, rangy plant, Laurin, but those flowers smell so good. —Pam
Yay for fun garden projects! Can’t wait to see the end result.
Me too! —Pam
How exciting! It will turn out beautifully and I can hardly wait to see the photos!
I hope it will, Cheryl. More pics coming soon. —Pam
Wow – that’s a big project and it all sounds wonderful. I can only guess where the idea for orange on the accent wall came from!
Might you be referring to JJ De Sousa’s garden? 🙂 I actually hadn’t thought of hers, but I’m sure I was subconsciously influenced. I was thinking that orangey-red would contrast nicely with the blue of the pool and my other blue accents, and it would pick up the rusty tones in the limestone coping. —Pam
I doubt you will have to gnash your teeth and tear your clothes. Your walls will great when all is finished. You will also like a level walk to the pool. Can’t wait to see the finished product. Nothing like an outdoor project to get the creative juices flowing.
I agree, Lisa. And the terror — ha! —Pam
It must be wonderful to be your own garden designer. And you certainly are not afraid to use color in the garden. And if the color is wrong you can just try another color. Hope he gets the job done tout de suite.
They expect to be done by the end of the week if the rain holds off. We’ll see. And yes, if I don’t like my original paint colors, well, it’s only paint. My hope is that the walls themselves will be the right choice. —Pam
Oh wow, big changes indeed! I hope construction goes well and you like the results. I am very curious to see how the ultra-modern colored stucco plays with the more rustic mortared limestone in the rest of your back garden.
Me too, Lori. I am going with earth tones on the walls for that very reason. If I lived in the desert and didn’t have existing limestone walls I’d go with much bolder colors! —Pam
Can’t wait to see the results.
Me too, Layanee! —Pam
Oh Pam.
These photos are lovely….and the stucco walls will be fab….great blog about it!
Have fun and can’t wait to see!
Fingers crossed, Lucinda. I’m feeling very good about the mason whose crew is working so hard. —Pam
Oh, that is so exciting, Pam! I can’t wait to see it. You’ll have fun with those colors and having so much usable space. Good luck with the process (watch it start raining now!).
It has been raining a bit. But so far not enough to stop work. —Pam
Ah – the promise of Before and After shots. Nothing I love better than to vicariously experience a construction success. Who knows, maybe your project will be the generator for several more! I am excited to see what your final color choices are. Again – the safest way to experiment is to let YOU do it first. : )
Ha! Well, I’m jumping in only because I’ve been drooling over such walls in other gardens, so you see I feel the same way. Let someone else go first! —Pam
Bravo, Pam! I’ll just echo the others – can’t wait to see the finished result. LOL (lots of luck)!
Thanks, Peter. I gladly accept all wishes for luck! —Pam
I like your idea of bringing in smooth stucco as a contrast with all the stone. The addition of color will be a nice addition in that spot too.
That’s the idea. I hope it works! Thanks for the validation. 🙂 —Pam
No broken china, pebbles, sea glass, tile chips? More work but would look fabulous
No, in another garden that would be so fun. But I’m trying to keep it clean and contemporary, while blending into what I inherited. —Pam
Can’t wait to see them!
Me too, Jenn. Soon, I hope! —Pam
What an interesting time in your garden. I know what you mean about feeling excited and nervous at the same time. Best wishes with your new project!
Thanks, Kris. Your garden is going through some big changes lately too. It’s fun and nerve-wracking both, isn’t it? —Pam
I hear what you’re saying and can relate to the need for colored walls! I can’t wait to see this evolve.
The stock tank fountain chair arranging is bordering on resort-like – very cool.
I know you “get” colored walls, Desert Dweller. If only I could go with purple. In another garden one day, perhaps. —Pam
I don’t see any way where this can go wrong. Paint choices can always be easily changed, and we know how much plants and walls have to say to each other. Silhouettes, lighting, this plan has legs! Good idea to jump on the plan when inspiration is still fresh.
I’m knocking on wood, Denise, but glad to know you think the plan has legs. Lighting is one of those areas I always wish I did more with in my gardens. I always seem to leave it as an afterthought, but you’re right, it would be lovely to wash those walls with light. —Pam
Oh I’m sure your project will turn out spectacularly because they always do. My projects on the other hand…
I also wish my Almond Verbena would get a move on and start growing…But then, I planted it in a location where it doesn’t get enough sun, nor enough water so I have to be patient…or dig it up and move it. But that requires work. So patience it shall be…
Almond verbena does enjoy a good deal of sun. But once established it seems pretty drought-tolerant, though it’s not necessarily pretty while it’s surviving. The leaves tend to curl and crisp. But it perks right up with the fall rains, and it’s all worth it for those fragrant white spires. —Pam