October marks the start of second planting season in Arizona--where we plant what most of the world enjoys in spring--geraniums, petunias, and soft rye grass.
It also starts to cool off (not a ton yet, but under 100 is cool around here), and many yard projects that have been procrastinated because of the insufferable heat suddenly become conquerable--like this one we've been putting off for a year now.
Notice the empty backboard? The glass shattered almost a year ago, but because it was tempered, it was held together in one piece by the frame. Every once in a while, a piece would fall, but it remained pretty much intact and completely inoperable for a year. A few weeks ago, some boys were in the driveway, saw a hoop, found a ball in the garage, and launched a shot. And it went through the hoop. Glass tinkled everywhere and a gaping hole was left in the backboard. The work could not be postponed much longer.
My little boys thought it was fun to aim for the backboard to knock all the shards to the ground, but the actual work of removing the glass chips from the concrete and surrounding rock was not fun. It was long, hot, boring work, especially since the glass blended in perfectly with the rock and would sneak out and cut you on occasion. Whew. At least that's done.
While we worked on the glass, Lily and two of her friends scalped the front lawn. If you've never scalped an Arizona lawn, you're missing out. Dust and grass and allergens fill the air as the mower passes not once, not twice, not three times, but sometimes four times around the yard until the bermuda grass is low enough to go dormant for the winter. We filled both green barrels and part of a black barrel with grass. Ugh. It's filthy, miserable work, and these three worked for hours on it.
When the lawn was sufficiently prepped and the seed spread, the real fun began. FORTY bags of steer manure. By the time that was done, all of us were ready to jump in the (cold for us) pool.
In a week or so, we should have a blanket of pale green peach fuzz, promising green lawn all winter long. And maybe I'll get some winter flowers planted next week when the kids are back in school.
Brad missed out on all the fun because he was in Toronto for work, and as we were finishing up, I remembered how Brad insisted that we put the lawn in last year before Ben left on his mission. I wonder if we'll wait to do it next fall until after he returns . . .
It also starts to cool off (not a ton yet, but under 100 is cool around here), and many yard projects that have been procrastinated because of the insufferable heat suddenly become conquerable--like this one we've been putting off for a year now.
Notice the empty backboard? The glass shattered almost a year ago, but because it was tempered, it was held together in one piece by the frame. Every once in a while, a piece would fall, but it remained pretty much intact and completely inoperable for a year. A few weeks ago, some boys were in the driveway, saw a hoop, found a ball in the garage, and launched a shot. And it went through the hoop. Glass tinkled everywhere and a gaping hole was left in the backboard. The work could not be postponed much longer.
While we worked on the glass, Lily and two of her friends scalped the front lawn. If you've never scalped an Arizona lawn, you're missing out. Dust and grass and allergens fill the air as the mower passes not once, not twice, not three times, but sometimes four times around the yard until the bermuda grass is low enough to go dormant for the winter. We filled both green barrels and part of a black barrel with grass. Ugh. It's filthy, miserable work, and these three worked for hours on it.
In a week or so, we should have a blanket of pale green peach fuzz, promising green lawn all winter long. And maybe I'll get some winter flowers planted next week when the kids are back in school.
Brad missed out on all the fun because he was in Toronto for work, and as we were finishing up, I remembered how Brad insisted that we put the lawn in last year before Ben left on his mission. I wonder if we'll wait to do it next fall until after he returns . . .
Why not do desert landscape?
ReplyDeleteReal green grass is awesome and worth it.
ReplyDeleteRocks and cacti are for retirees, not active families with children who play on the grass.
ReplyDeleteIMHO