A Brilliant Idea

The newness of the window frames has passed and I am anxiously awaiting the next step.  I was hoping it would be glass, but that is still a few weeks off. The next phase in the evolution is stucco, and I will go up on Thursday to approve a sample. Stay tuned for photos. The house has been standing for so long with the Styrofoam walls that I forgot they were only temporary. Hopefully, the structure will cease to look like a large ice chest and take on the presence of a house that has weathered the elements, endured the ravages of time, and seen the coming and going of generations of families. Sorry about all the sentimentality. Growing up in Southern California, I am used to everything being linked to the past, steeped in tradition (Sarcasm!).

So taken by the abundance of wildflowers that now cover what was a construction site, I have been inspired to design a garden of concrete islands varying in size and shape. This will allow for the wild flowers to grow in between, thus marrying the site to the existing surroundings of, not exactly, specimen, tress, and foliage. When I take pictures tomorrow, this will be easier to demonstrate. Meanwhile, just know that this is a brilliant idea. 

Landscaping the front of the house is an entirely different matter. First, I must shield the house from the road as much as possible. I had to abandon the idea of a long, meandering driveway as the house is only set back about 50 feet from the road. I am lucky to make it comply with handicap codes pertaining to wheelchair accessibility. Keeping the cost of maintenance in mind, I am still thinking gravel with potted plants for the front and some kind of greenery climbing all sides of the house. I hope it can all happen this year; winter is creeping up on us, Mitch.