Eight days before the marathon and six days before the departing flight, we found ourselves with a weekend. The mileage was down (10 instead of the long 20s, and no speed interval in the mix), there were no essays to speak of, and a hair-brained scheme to transform the yard took root--er, form.
Stephanie and I returned from our run to find my parents destroying the ivy bordering the front of our house.
One thing led to another and down came trees, bushes, and a few drip-system sprinklers. What emerged in its place was a lot of colorful array of brick and a lot of possibility.
The ivy, invasive as it is, will return. But the goal will be to keep it at a manageable height. The remaining bush will still bloom, but the house now receives far more attention and air than it has in quite some time.
I also went on a tear on the western side of the house. We uncovered some ground, and located a lime tree. I also rekindled a long-standing relationship with an acacia tree. Both of these, despite being consumed at the trunk by twirling ivy vines, provide extensive coverage and sharp, stubborn thorns.
The 'rents also provided some drought deterrent additions to the landscaped portion of our yard. The only original features in the photo above are the rosemary, the butterfly bush, and the two green globs in the left and right of the photo. Another addition: the rock placed (seen in the lower left near the rosemary). I'm told there's another one coming, but I'm quite pleased with this one.
The remnants, much to the neighbor's chagrin. We filled our green waste bin, so I guess this makes me a proponent of the dreaded city "claw" that chugs around the neighborhood addressing street pickups.
Our shiny digs, at the end of a few hours' journey. It definitely alters what we'll envision as we stride through D.C. next Sunday.
No comments:
Post a Comment