Conserving Water .... a couple of ideas.

UPDATE:
A few days ago I met with a very nice couple that I've done work for in the past. I thought it was really quite neat to see that their daughter had hand painted a rain barrel at the front corner of their home to help irrigate some plants in their back yard. I think she did a great job, don't you?


ORIGINAL POST:
Our cities grow and the demand for water increases. Many people love their plants. They are like friends to them. During the last few years, there have been instances where city governments have placed restrictions on outdoor watering. When outdoor watering is restricted, we are making it hard for our plant friends to be all they can be. One way to help is homemade water conservation.
Water Barrels - Connect to your roof gutters and direct year-round rainfall into these durable collection barrels. These barrels range in price from $60 - $150.

A link to "How to make your own water barrel:
http://www.bayteccontainers.com/howtomaraba.html
Here are a few more ideas that might help with water conservation:
You can do many things to capture rainfall at your site:
-Create depressions around trees and line them with rocks or mulch to retain moisture.
-If you are designing a new home site for water harvesting, arrange brick or flagstone paving to direct water to plants.
-Dig furrows and channels to direct water to a garden.
-Make sure your gutters and downspouts are free of trash, dirt and leaves.

Stone mailbox

VIDEO ABOVE

I really enjoyed doing this job. It was my first stone mailbox and my clients felt comfortable with me doing the work. Just about the entire time I was working on this project, the homeowners were out of town. I was told that the lady of the house closed her eyes and she and her husband drove up. "How does it look?", she asked her husband. All is well. The homeowners are pleased and, of course, that is very important to me.

A fall wall?

Do you feel the hint of fall in the air? I do! At least, I think I do. I hope it's not a mirage. As the summer winds down and footballs begin to penetrate the air, I find myself in the middle of a couple of projects. One is a stone mailbox and the other is a backyard stack wall. Here are some pictures of the wall I'm building. I'll be sure to provide photos of the finished project when I'm done. Photos of the mailbox are forthcoming.




PHOTO LEFT: Here's part of the wall I'm working on, including some of the tools of my trade (shovel, hand mattock, rubber mallet, small sledge hammer, rock hammer...level and chisel missing in photo).




PHOTO LEFT: One aspect of putting this wall together was removing the artificial segmented stones and redesigning the wall. The stone used is a mixture of various types of stone already on the property.

Circular patio with fire pit and sitting wall

Me and my trusty pick-up found our way to Trussville, recently. I met a very nice family there that was interested in having a round patio with a firepit and sitting wall. They explained to me that the round shape of a patio would contribute a calming effect to those who used it. I have to admit, I do feel a calm pass over me when I sit on that patio, now that it is completed. The line of a circle is so simple, yet beautiful, you know. It's no wonder it can bring about serenity and convergence.

VIDEO: Circle Patio

Crocosmia - A hummingbird lovin', summer color perennial that will easily grow in your yard

It is this time of the year; hot and humid, sticky and sweaty. Being out in the yard during July and August can wear on you, but being around a plant in flower can make it more pleasant. Compared to spring and early summer, there aren't as many plants blooming in mid summer that can engage you and divert your attention from mosquitoes and the 100+ heat index. One such plant is the little used Crocosmia.

PHOTO LEFT: Crocosmia will definitely attract hummingbirds and butterflies





Crocosmia are actually from the Iris family. They are perennial and grow from corms (bulb shaped roots). The foliage is somewhat gladiola-like, but the foliage isn't why you plant Crocosmia

The Crocosmia I have in my yard just started blooming in the last couple of weeks. These plants are not on my regular watering route, yet they grow and bloom, every year, without fail. Crocosmia blooms are typically orange or red. Mine are orange and really stand out because the hue is bright and solid.

PHOTO ABOVE: Crocosmia 'Lucifer'

There are several Crocosmia varieties to choose from including Lucifer (red, of course), Bright Eyes (orange w/ red throat), Emberglow (orange red), and Babylon (deep reddish orange). These varieties and others also vary in bloom size, plant size, etc.


PHOTO RIGHT: Crocosmia 'Babylon'




What else is there to know about Crocosmia? They are notorious attractors of hummingbirds and butterflies. They're easy to divide and move throughout your yard or give away. They make great cut flowers. Crocosmia usually fall in the Zone 6 to 10 range, making them perfectly suited to our Southeastern climate. Try to plant them in full sun ot part shade and avoid particularly wet areas. Spring is a great time to pick up Crocosmia from your local nurseries. I can't say that I have seen it at the big box stores, so give the real nurseries a call and see what they have. Give it a whirl!

Do not scroll down if you have a bad case of arachnophobia

Grand Daddy Long Leg Convention

PHOTO ABOVE: Click on photo for an enhanced view.

Thank you, Linda, for taking this awesome picture of these spiders enjoying the shade of fig leaves.

Recommended Quick Trip...

PHOTO LEFT: Here is a shot I took of the Horton Mill Covered Bridge, located just a few miles down the road from the Oneonta Wal-Mart












If you just happen to be in the area or want to make a day trip out of it, Oneonta has a lot to offer... for such a small town. There are several covered bridges in Oneonta that you can visit. As for driving across them, I'm not sure about that. I do remember driving across the Horton Mill Bridge several years ago. I had my son, Jake, along for the ride the last time I crossed over the bridge and I have to say, it was exciting, scary, and nostalgic, all at the same time.


VIDEO ABOVE: Would I have driven across the bridge if it hadn't been roped off? Sure, adventure is my middle name!



One block off of main street, there are several cool shops where you can browse local folk art (Donna and I are the proud owners of a beautiful brown hand made fruit bowl that we purchased a few years back), antiques, old time hardware, and more. And there are more than just a few good eateries around town that will satisfy any craving you might have.
A few miles outside of Oneonta, you can visit Palisades Park. There are some awesome rock outcrops and bluffs there. Palisades Park is a great place to go rappelling or simply take in the awesome scenery.
If rock peaks your curiosity, stop in at one of the many stone companies located in Oneonta. You can kill a half hour or more just dreaming about what you could do in your yard with a pallet or two of rock.
For more information on Oneonta and Blount County, try this web site: http://www.blountoneontachamber.org/