Landscaping my home- A new wall, and 1/2 of a front yard!

[cj65]

Well I have been pretty busy finally planting the front yard, and now constructing my second wall. The first one divided my neighbor and my yard. This new wall is going to provide a boundary for a small sitting area, and pathway to the back yard. I have no lawn in the front, for I do not want to mow grass. I do not mind pruning. In fact, the plants that I have would all grow together if I do not prune them. I have a couple of hawkbill pruning knives ready to go! So, here are some pics of the progress so far. I am a die hard plant nerd due to my background in Horticulture and irrigation, and that is what I do for a living. I finally got around to landscaping our home. My wife is tickled that I am finally getting this done.

Next, I wanted some secondary pathway flagstone to provide workspace for pruning. It is 3 rivers flagstone. I got a boat load free, which is what borders the new planting area. I finished that part over a year ago. I move pretty slow.

My kids asked my why I put the metal rods (rebar) into the bricks. I told them this is a zombie defense walls, and that zombies really hate rebar. They are comforted to know that dad is getting ready for the zombie apocalypse.

 

[ron_m80]

Damn chris. that is some good stuff there. Back fill those suckers for for some real cover though



You had great weather for it, I took the girlfriend and my son out to rosemead park, they rode bikes I rode a skateboard. (yeah for some reason I can still do it, and not kill myself; though I took a hell of a nice tumble twice since pushing a board around again.)

 

[cj65]

Here are some close ups of the plants. They are all well suited for Southern CA. Most of what I have is drought tolerant, but it is hydro zoned with creeping thyme, which is shallow rooted and requires a tad more frequent irrigation. You cannot win them all.

Geraldton Wax Flower- airy shrub, great cut flowers...

Compact cousin of said wax flower....

I promised SWMBO that I would put in some lavender, this is dwf English. I am old school with my lavenders, there are many new varieties, but I digress.

Grevillea noelli lava flame. humming birds will hit it, but probably not Glockman. It has spines, not recommended for dogs, it can irritate their skin. Vets say to avoid it. I like the plant so in it went.

This little blue flower is called Lithodora. I am taking a chance with this ground cover, I have never seen it before. I have been in irrigation for the last 5 yrs. so new plants have snuck in that I am not used to. I used to sell wholesale nursery to the big boxes, and never seen it then.

Erysimum an orange variety, sort of a cool mango color. I needed hot colors so it is seen far away, orange, yellow reds do that. Blues and purples are not as noticed far away.

Grasses are all th rage in the landscape nowadays, and they have thier place. This one is called Mexican Feather grass. The wifey loved it, so I spotted some hither and thither. I really do not design, I just place and plant. Analysis paralysis can be a problem for me.

This is the best looking plant right now, it is a kangaroo paw, and it is a dwf variety cause these can get tall. A hummingbird that was yellow with a red throat hit it the other day. The colors of the flower matched the hummingbird, and me without a camera.

This photo has 2 other species of kangaroo paws. Pink and orange, but the flowers are not as up on these yet.

The neighbors are happy to see something other than dirt and weeds, so I am the popular guy on the block right now. I hope you enjoy. I am having fun, but my back is sore.

 

[cj65]

Damn chris. that is some good stuff there. Back fill those suckers for for some real cover though



You had great weather for it, I took the girlfriend and my son out to rosemead park, they rode bikes I rode a skateboard. (yeah for some reason I can still do it, and not kill myself; though I took a hell of a nice tumble twice since pushing a board around again.)

Ron, I do grout all my walls prior to capping them. My dad is a structural engineer, so I am anal retentive when it comes to leveling and structural integrity. I am even using his old school wood level.

 

[cj65]

The flagstone border around the garden is planted with Dymondia filling into the cracks. It is an excellent lawn substitue. I also have it in my parkway. It is semi trafficable, and it is great that it gets pruned off the flagstone when stepped on. So, you do not have to stay off of my landscape!

I have creeping thyme in the secondary pathways. Also, the big tree is a Japanese maple. I should have held out for one of those new fangled grafted varieties, but I love this tree, and do not need it to be super showy. It has nice light green leaves, and it will contrast nicely withe other colors and textures. I am looking forward to it all growing in. The garden wall will basically look just like the divider wall, with a chocolate brown bull nose cap. Those caps are like $2.85 each! Uggggh! They are more expensive than the actual wall, but hey, labor was free, but do not tell my back, it will go on strike to know that it did not get paid for all this work.

 

[cj65]

Damn chris. that is some good stuff there. Back fill those suckers for for some real cover though



You had great weather for it, I took the girlfriend and my son out to rosemead park, they rode bikes I rode a skateboard. (yeah for some reason I can still do it, and not kill myself; though I took a hell of a nice tumble twice since pushing a board around again.)

We got a second phase of controllers in L.A. Co. parks. I will be at a park in La Mirada tomorrow for a pre construction meeting. I bet Rosemead is on the list too. I am going to be busy in South Central, uggggh! Watts! Although, the small hole in the wall Mexican food joints are to die for, hopefully not literally. Hee Hee.

 

[A.W.U.K.]

That's coming on nicely, it'll be lovely once the plants are established.
That wall is well built, I've seen retaining walls holding back 6' of soil built less strongly than that!

 

[cj65]

That's coming on nicely, it'll be lovely once the plants are established.
That wall is well built, I've seen retaining walls holding back 6' of soil built less strongly than that!

Thank you for your compliment.

 

[BA_Colt]

Chris,
That is nifty!!!!
You are quite the landscape architect.

 

[RevDevil]

Looks good Chris. We used to call those little walls "Friday Night Shin Busters".
Stumbling home after a night of imbibing ales, those walls would wreck your shins as you tripped over them on the way to the door. So I hear anyway....

 

[cj65]

Chris,
That is nifty!!!!
You are quite the landscape architect.

I drew out a plan cause I had way too many ideas and could not commit to just one til I penciled it out. I wish I could draw, but I really cannot. All of those teeny tiny plants will be filling in well probably by the end of summer. Truthfully, it does not look it, but I over planted. If I need to I can relocate some to the back. The cost of plants has sky rocketed. Most big box retailers are on pay by scan so the growers get screwed out of payment if a cashier does not ring up a plant, or if it does not sell. No risk for the retailer, all is on the grower. I got out just in time. Home Depot, Lowes, and even Walmart have really hurt the nursery industry more than they helped it.

 

[cj65]

Looks good Chris. We used to call those little walls "Friday Night Shin Busters".
Stumbling home after a night of imbibing ales, those walls would wreck your shins as you tripped over them on the way to the door. So I hear anyway....

This one will be 5 courses high, so you would have to fall over this one. I got 2 courses done on Saturday, but that is because I did not have to point the blocks between the first course for drainage, and I did not point the second course til Sunday. Sunday I pointed the joints of the second course, laid the third and then pointed the third. 2 courses to go, and this wall will be the same height as what you see in the back.

 

[gundude73]

Great job CJ!

 

[cj65]

thanks Matt. I am off all next week, so I can giterdone.