February framing and planting without a hose

In February, the house was framed. I had come up alone to hopefully see the concrete poured, however, we got the news that it was done already. I was all set to go anyway and on my first morning at the command post, was surely surprised when I saw a truck rumble down the drive. Three men got out and started unrolling the plastic sheeting that covered the concrete, just oured five days before. Another large truck and trailer came down soon after and dropped a load of lumber.

2005-2 Watching them frame the house from the 'Command Post'

Amazed, I watched from the command post every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Three days later, the three men were finished and I shook each ones’ hand. What a great experience, so unexpected and so satisfying!  

Last year we had built a retaining wall and I couldn’t resist planting a few things like rosemary and lavender. We have no hose or water supply yet, besides ‘borrowing’ from the neighbors, so everything will get hand watered on our monthly(hopefully) visits to the property.

I had trimmed a jungle of brush away from a huge rock at the south end of the pad, so there was an area now for planting. I decided to take a risk and planted a crabapple and a mugho pine and a few other things. Some didn’t make it, but the rosemary and lavender, planted along the wall, did. The daffodils also did well because they don’t need summer water. Everything else, planted during this time, lived…on monthly water from buckets.

Sue Langley

Sue Langley, a passionate gardener and photographer lives and gardens with her husband and Corgi, Maggie on 7 acres just south of Yosemite, Zone 7 at 3000 feet. She also manages the Flea Market Gardening Facebook page and website.

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Sue Langley

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