The Back Garden is Finished!

I've been taking full advantage of some warm weather we've had for the past two weekends to get cranking on finishing touches to the back garden before the winter rains start.

After many hours of trimming, weeding, and moving cuttings of succulents from the front yard into the back to fill in spaces and empty pots, I feel satisfied with how things are looking, and even more importantly, I have received AJ's seal of approval!

It's done!

Here are some scenes from around the garden, starting with the approach from the house:

I had this corrugated galvanized steel sheet left from the last fence project.
I added it here to reflect light and heat onto the plants.

This is a flue that was attached to the stove when we got it.

A finishing touch in the cozy egg chair area, in front of the panda.

I made the planter on the right out of a figure-8 fish tank I had handy.
The terra cotta bits are smashed up tiles left over from kitchen project.

This is a broken Williamsburg Virgina pitcher. It's such a beautiful blue.

Overhead view of the newly planted old rain gutter at the entrance to the yard.
I hope the succulents are happy there.

While I was at it, I also put up the nautical bell from the abandoned Rube Goldberg doorbell project, so that AJ can get my attention if I'm downstairs and have left my phone ringer off (which is often):

View from upstairs back door.

This bell pull is a piece of a door handle assembly that was left in the house.

Down at the other end. The counterweight is a big ring of keys that was left in the house.
Complete with a ratty old rabbit's foot.

Also, why not have a nautical bell somewhere?

Lastly, as I enjoyed the view from the green egg chair, I was joined by a visitor who let me know that they're pleased with the state of the garden, as well:

In other news, you may have noticed that it's been a quiet year around here. You may be asking, "when are you going to get back to tearing things apart and making enormous messes?" Well, as it happens, the roof has reached the end of its life. And not only are we re-shingling the whole thing, we're also having two sun tunnels -- like mini-skylights, but better...you'll see -- installed over the dining room. And it's all happening in THREE WEEKS.

ENORMOUS MESSES AWAIT!