News flash – I’m not as young as I used to be! Today I finally had a chance to work in the garden. I cleaned off the deck that my husband is working hard to dismantle. Yup, moving pots, clearing up garden debris, digging and turning the compost pile, weeding, snipping and otherwise puttering around in the garden has exhausted me. Kind of pathetic! Anyway, thought I’d share some pictures of the backyard wedding project
Starting at the northwest corner, some planks have been removed.
View from southeast corner.
The avocado tree has a large gall that was being constricted by the deck. A perfect area for rot and disease. Hopefully the tree will remain healthy. It is currently loaded with small avocados that should be ripe by about January.
Supporting beams show lots of decay.
Following last week’s rain and this week’s warm sunshine, the fuchsia-flowering gooseberry is covered with young green leaves.
Phacelia, gilia and CA poppies are all sprouting (as are some weeds).
Milo is just pooped from working so hard!
looking good! i'm envious 'cause i managed to fall and break my arm yesterday so i'll need hired help with the fall planting. sigh…
So sorry to hear that. Hope it heals quickly so you can get some dirt under your fingernails.
What happened to my gasoline idea?
whooooooooaaaaaa
It looks like you're making good progress!<br /><br />It's hard to tell, but the deck planks look like they could be some nicer redwood that is still in reasonable shape. Maybe you can salvage them for another project – an arbor perhaps?
Brent – the wood is pressure-treated so we are being very careful not to cut it. It does worry me that these decks were made of arsenic- and chromium-impregnated wood. <br /><br />Mary Delle – once the deck is out we will get serious about the next step. Thinking of decomposed granite sitting area. We'll see.
Can't wait to see the finished deck.
Age does happen. We must find easier ways to do everything, which takes much longer than before. This is my first visit to your blog, I think, by way of Blotanical. I'm particularly interested in your wildflowers. Some grow here, some not.
Admiration and sympathy. What an undertaking! But it's fun to 'watch' it happening. Thanks for letting us see behind the scenes. And now that your wildflowers are sprouting, could you post some of your great close-ups to help the novices among us identify the desirables from the undesirables? I'm afraid of pulling wildflowers along with the weeds. Help! And thanks in
Looking good! Looks like a good decision to eliminate the deck, the DG idea sounds great! Can't wait to see it finished.
It must be the season for huge projects. Good luck with yours–It looks like a brave undertaking! Wood decks are great, but they're fairly resource-intensive, not to mention so 1970s Sunset Magazine. An alternate material that still lets you use the space for entertaining would be great. And think of all the plants you could plant where the boards once were.
Nell Jean – welcome to Wild Suburbia. Just had a look at your blog. I seem to have something of all the gardener types, though hort. gardener is closest, while Grandmother is frighteningly close.<br /><br />Anonymous – will post the sprouts – probably later this week. Thanks for the comment.<br /><br />Susie and James – yes – big project – thanks for the encouragement. At this point we are
Barbara~~ I've got a few sagging boards on my deck. I agree with James. Decks are so Sunset 70s. LOL
Hi Grace. We had a few sagging boards when we moved in 12 years ago. Funny, they didn't get better. Do you plan to remove your deck?