The Old Folks Home

[casportpony]

Quote:

-Kathy

 

[chickisoup]

@Arielle and @superchemicalgirl and other noerth eastern members - Stay warm and safe and hope the weather reports greatly over exaggerated the snow!

@ronott1 and @perchie.girl and other west coast members Hope you get the rain you need SAFELY! No mudslides, flooding or injuries!

X2!

 

[drumstick diva]

Now cut that out SCG 'swimming with the fishes," does seem better than a bloody horsehead in bed- except I can't swim either (it's genetic in my family I think )- no swimmers but some really good walkers.

 

[drumstick diva]

Oh should mention it's 40 degrees today - woo hoo

, . I thought I didn't need a hat but, water is dripping from everywhere so had to put one on. I would say it was gorgeous outside but, won't - don't want to be punished for bragging.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Oh should mention it's 40 degrees today - woo hoo

, . I thought I didn't need a hat but, water is dripping from everywhere so had to put one on. I would say it was gorgeous outside but, won't - don't want to be punished for bragging.

I went out to the fabric store earlier and it was +17. After being -20 earlier, +17 felt like beach weather.

 

[vehve]

Bunny, yeah, I thought I'd put in some sedum or something if it doesn't take.

 

[perchie.girl]

Bunny, yeah, I thought I'd put in some sedum or something if it doesn't take.

Dichondra works well in damp climates too. Grandpa had a Dichondra lawn in the trailer park. I have seen it grow under water too.

deb

 

[Arielle]

Quote: In reality I figured it was complicated. Everyone wants it and several levels of government management to #($@#*#&$ errr mess it up further.

Had a friend move to AZ when her husband retired. I looked at the shrinking aquafer ( sp??) info and decided that was not the brightest move.

Water is a critical resource.

@Arielle
We are on water rationing.... San Diego is on a mandated 20 percent cut back from the previous year.

here yards are coming out and being replaced with either hardscape or Xeriscaping. I have a plan of a Xeriscaped yard... for this yard. We are allowed to water lawns twice a week. There are some that have figured out how to use grey water in the yard..

There are a few that dont give a (insert explitive of your choice here) about it all and water the lawns and wash their cars and let the water just go down the drain... But peer pressure is weeding those out... along with the hefty fines.

Oh and car washing is recommended to do at a car wash. By law Car washes are required to recycle.

Yep I would love to Xeriscape grandmas yard its very small maybe about twenty four by about thirty. It would be done on a gradual basis as we could afford it.

first the Swale that starts on the side of the house would be continued down through the yard with a river of cobblestones. Before the gate I would put two foot square pavers then run them across the front of the planter in front of the house. You cant walk on gravel very easily and this would provide a decorateive access to the gate.

Then next down from the gate I would plant a grouping of Grasses the kind that get about three or four feet tall with really pretty heads on them when they go to seed. surrounding them I would use more river rocks but they would be around an inch in diameter and as white as I could find... Then in line with those I would plant a single Crepe myrtle tree the kind that have multiple trunks. I love the form of the tree and the shape and the color of the bark. Surrounded by more natural white river stones. from there the stones will be raked into ripples to mimic water.

ON the other side of the Big Cobble stones I would do an aloe garden.... with a few butterfly bushes as well. specimens only. with a bed of bark.

The tree and Grasses will be fed water from Ollas... Literally Terracotta pitchers buried in the ground Terracotta is very porous and all you need to do is fill them up with water and forget them. They have a decorative grate to keep things from falling in... also made of terracotta.

The specimen garden would be fed by drip... once established the drip can be turned off for the most part. Or can have water delivered by a cistern of grey water.

deb

Hearing that more people are moving to change is promising. Only when push comes to shove do most people change-- just how we humans are wired.

Use of grey water is wonderful We are still stuck in the dark ages here-- MUST be duped in to the main tank. ( shaking head.)

I'm out to work on the driveway some more (sixth day)- with my trusty shovel. Apparently that is "character building," I'm almost 5 feet tall, my character towers above me -almost like a cone! Heavy too.

I'm praying for no school on Monday. BOys home to help shovel and an oldest mentioned wanting to try Khan academy web site!! WHooot!!!! THe first time he has volunteered to do extra work, though thankfully he has always complied when I give him extra school work. Ya, extra school work is character building too-- and builds better grades in school. lol ( Love your new avatar-- very cute and cheery!)

Quote: Most people dont realize that green lawns became the thing to have, meant reaching middle class and success; a status symbol. Me? I see grass lawns as potential graze for sheep and now for ducks and chickens. lol HOnestly Ron, I"m glad people are rediscovering the wonderful plants that will only grow in your area . . . .plants that would never live here in the Northeast. I'm all for strong native plants that dont need ( as much) insecticides and herbicides. )

Quote: Hmmm. . . I wonder how the local gray water can be allowed to be used, as in who decides the rules. . .. .. . purple lines are a surprising color. I know one person, not stating names as I dont want the authorities to get involved, that separated the gray water and uses it to water the gardens, not food gardens, just lovely hostas and the like.

Except right in front of our kitchen window... I'm having trouble with that spot, it gets virtually no sunlight. It's on the north side of the house, underneath a huge maple tree. I tried planting some grass that's supposed to do well in the shade, but I didn't have much luck with it. I hope it will grow better this year.

I found out the hard way that grasses like sun, even the "shade" types. Perhaps hostas.

Quote: HAaahaaa, mid 20's feel like a heat wave. Yesterday morning it was 0. Got the kids on the bus, and then waited for a 10 degree warmup before letting out the birds.

 

[tntchix]

It's gorgeous here today. We hit 40 too. *headed for a heat wave tomorrow then freezing rain/ice for Monday.I'll take it. I was able to break the ice buildup in the downspouts. I forgot to adjust them for winter. My bad.

I have a large yard and have not watered or treated my lawn in 20 yrs. If DH would let me, I would remove most of the grass and make raised beds for gardening and such. Xeriscapes would be cool too. I love rocks. I have several huge boulders lining the property and a rock garden behind the back deck.

When we were in TX, the HOA made us water our lawns (no brown grass) and then the city got mad when we used water. Go figure. I always thought it was idiotic. Now the only time the hose gets used is washing the dog, car, (rarely) or watering flowers and plants.

 

[bamachicks8]

Hey how's everybody been