PERGOLA #6

Man, this is taking a long time. The columns have finally had the concrete block and brick facing completed. Next step, final walkway. Then, the gravel can get combed out. When will I ever get to plant my wisteria?!

PERGOLA #5

The gravel has arrived and the columns are getting brick facings. The weather is finally cooling down so that I might be able to think about planting wisteria that will grow up the columns.

At the rate construction has been moving, I'll be able to take advantage of bare roots sales in January!

Is bare root planting only a regional thing or do you also enjoy bare root planting?

PERGOLA #4

The roof of the pergola is complete. Next comes the west walkway on the left of the photo (The one with the flags.) The irrigation system will come next on the east side (right) followed by the east walkway. Brick will surround the bottom portion of the columns and gravel will fill the area under the pergola. There's horrible, awful clay junk dirt now. Only a select few plants or trees (aka weeds) are tough enough to grow in that stuff.

PERGOLA #3

The concrete forms are in place and the lumber is being erected to form the pergola. It will be amazing if anything can knock this down! The schedule didn't work out as planned in the previous post. The irrigation line and walk ways should come in after the structure has been completely erected.

PERGOLA #2

The concrete for the stairs and columns is in! Next week: sprinkler line installed and walkways set in concrete.

PERGOLA #1

The framework is complete for the pergola. Concrete is coming tomorrow. Follow along here. I'll try to take an image from the same angle to chronicle the progress.

Little Specks

Today reminded me that we humans are just dinky specks on the Earth's crust. How arrogant we are to think that we impact the environment so enormously. The earthquake here in California was similar to a dog shaking after/during a bath. Flip. Flop. We're just specks. I'm such a cynic; but I'm convinced that the whole "Green" movement and "Global Warming" blather is nothing more than marketing. Most people are following along like guilty sheep. Don't get me wrong. I don't like waste; but so many people seem like such chumps. Nonetheless, I enjoy earthquakes (I know - FREAK) and am glad no one was hurt during the free roller coaster ride.