Monday Miscellany

So many random things happen and fill up the phone storage, sometimes it's fun to just go back through and take a look at what I've forgotten to share.

Like this combo of trees in my stepson's yard. They're technically the neighbor's trees, but what a visual delight (taken in late June when it felt like early August already).

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Even better when put into context of the greenery and blue sky:

Anybody know what the tree with the yellow blooms is? The red one is a fantastic Acer palmatum that must be 30 years old or more.



I spent a lot of time working on projects for a client this summer, but was waiting to share photos with you after the garden was finished. Since the client was doing most of the plant-related work herself and broke her arm after a fall, the garden got delayed by a few months. So I thought I'd share my contributions even though things are very much still a work in progress (except for my part, which is finished).

I built two pergolas, one about 1/2 the size of the other, two simple planter boxes, and two benches. This photo only shows one of the pergolas and planter boxes, but the other two are very similar.

I also designed and built her a new fence section and gate:

She wanted a simple, open design. I think it turned out quite well -- she's certainly happy with it!

I may also be digging a small pond for her later this summer, but we'll see.



This bridge at a park near my childhood house in suburban Chicago once supported car traffic, but is for bikes and foot traffic only now. Pretty!

As was the water flowing underneath it:

The creek was much more muddy when I was a child. It's not exactly clear now, but few rivers/creeks in this part of the country are.



Also seen a few blocks from mom's house was this:

This front garden is so out of place here, it would have been perfect for one of Loree's WWTT? posts (What Were They Thinking?) I think these people want to live in California...



This is why I get so nervous about mowing the lawn after I've let it go for a month or more (because of lack of rain):

Turtles hide at the edges of the lawn. I'll have to scout around before I mow each section. Turtles are some of my garden's premiere inhabitants!



Finally, a look at my front garden from a different angle:

It looks better in person I think, as the photo doesn't capture it well. I especially like the dead branch in the bed under the tree -- classy!


I'm hoping the rest of this week won't be so random, but we'll see...

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