Backyard party: status report 10/6/05

We filled out loads of paperwork and obtained a permit to remove three Monterey Pines; some big guys came and cut down the trees; and a lone stump grinder ground the stumps into chips.

What's next?

This Monday a fantastic landscaper and his hard-working crew will start work on turning our sorry backyard into A THING OF BEAUTY. It also will be a place suitable for kids and adults alike to frolic, dance, drink, and be happy.

This is what he will do:

Clean up side yard. Kill bamboo growing up through rocks. Possibly remove all rocks and just make this area grass.

Remove existing sorry excuse for a patio and build patio out of pavers accessible from living room and play room.

Remove existing ugly red bricks and build sidewalk out of pavers to extend from patio to side yard.

Remove concrete pad in corner of yard.

Create 3-foot deep planting bed around perimeter of yard.

Remove any/all existing lawn, roto-till to remove leftover roots, make smooth and level.

Install sprinkler system with improved drainage to pipe that goes to street.

Lay sod.

Plant 3 trees to satisfy permit requirement.

Prune existing apple tree and make sure sprinklers are on it so that next year we can have yummy--instead of wormy--apples.

And all of this work will be completed in (get this) less than two weeks! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait.

Don't ask me how much this is costing.