You may recall that when the steps were installed we hit a snafu... the bottom step was below grade. A design whoopsie... followed by footings that matched... and, well, my steps seemed to lead to either a wine cellar or a nuclear fall out shelter. (Certainly someone thinks to put wine in nuclear fall out shelters, right? I mean...)
Anyway, it's been the topic of speculation to the point of ad nausem. Perhaps even to the point of making me cranky. I didn't know what I was going to do to fix it, and if I did know, wouldn't I be doing it? I'm the type that in scenarios such as this I need to let the change settle and then re-evaluate. I need some time and space, please.
Ultimately I did choose the path of least resistance, which was to bury the bottom step. I tried it tentatively at first, not really loving the idea of burying one of the beautiful steel steps, but smart enough to realize that if I didn't go that route, the other options were much much more labor intensive and spendy. No harm in trying... Blissfully it turned out that I liked it. Here is the initial re-work: (Be nice.)
Now, before you say anything (I suspect I'm not fast enough to stop your initial mental impressions) a few disclaimers:
One -- obviously the weed stop fabric along the path needs some detail work done. I'll tuck it under and re-staple it, and it will be hidden with mondo grass or thyme or something.
Two, the two rows of 3 cement pavers are not permanent. At least I don't think they are. I needed something to do a bit of terracing to prevent a mudslide and I had those on hand. I suspect they will be replaced with flagstone, or timbers, or.. I don't know. Something more aesthetically pleasing than those rectangular pavers. But for the time being, they work. I must admit to prancing when I walk to my car in the morning and my shoes don't get muddy. And I do love love love the steps and canopy.
That larger green plant to the right of the steps was between my car port and my neighbor's fence -- truly neglected and sort of pretty. Also the only living thing on that little stretch of dirt. So I decided to give it some love and move it out to where I can see it and heck maybe even water it occasionally. So far it seems happy. It's sort of an unusual plant; I should have snapped a close up photo of it to show you. I don't know if it blooms or anything; time will tell.
I may plant a couple Japanese Yew behind those chairs against the railing to give a soft screen... and the pansies were hand-me-downs from my neighbor; she was replacing them. They may not thrive, but at the moment they are better there than mud, and again... free. I'm all over free.
Anyway, it's been the topic of speculation to the point of ad nausem. Perhaps even to the point of making me cranky. I didn't know what I was going to do to fix it, and if I did know, wouldn't I be doing it? I'm the type that in scenarios such as this I need to let the change settle and then re-evaluate. I need some time and space, please.
Ultimately I did choose the path of least resistance, which was to bury the bottom step. I tried it tentatively at first, not really loving the idea of burying one of the beautiful steel steps, but smart enough to realize that if I didn't go that route, the other options were much much more labor intensive and spendy. No harm in trying... Blissfully it turned out that I liked it. Here is the initial re-work: (Be nice.)
Now, before you say anything (I suspect I'm not fast enough to stop your initial mental impressions) a few disclaimers:
One -- obviously the weed stop fabric along the path needs some detail work done. I'll tuck it under and re-staple it, and it will be hidden with mondo grass or thyme or something.
Two, the two rows of 3 cement pavers are not permanent. At least I don't think they are. I needed something to do a bit of terracing to prevent a mudslide and I had those on hand. I suspect they will be replaced with flagstone, or timbers, or.. I don't know. Something more aesthetically pleasing than those rectangular pavers. But for the time being, they work. I must admit to prancing when I walk to my car in the morning and my shoes don't get muddy. And I do love love love the steps and canopy.
That larger green plant to the right of the steps was between my car port and my neighbor's fence -- truly neglected and sort of pretty. Also the only living thing on that little stretch of dirt. So I decided to give it some love and move it out to where I can see it and heck maybe even water it occasionally. So far it seems happy. It's sort of an unusual plant; I should have snapped a close up photo of it to show you. I don't know if it blooms or anything; time will tell.
I may plant a couple Japanese Yew behind those chairs against the railing to give a soft screen... and the pansies were hand-me-downs from my neighbor; she was replacing them. They may not thrive, but at the moment they are better there than mud, and again... free. I'm all over free.
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