August 2009 Archives

Nikita basking as she guards the new backyard against the newest enemy: squirrels.

The grass seedlings have started to take root and the patch of brown has begun to take on a light fuzzy shade of green.

The centipedes sure seem happy...

I have acquired the LARGEST patch of weeds in all of Astoria. I think perhaps the epicenter of all dandelion infestations in Queens originated here.

I had to pretty much unearth everything down to the roots, lay the flag and pavestones, aerate the dirt, mix in fertilizer, level the ground, build a compost pile, create a small trench to contain potential runoff, sow the whole enchilada and then finally soak it.

I think that every tool in the shed was out that day, shovel, rake, hoe, hedge shears, pitchfork; everything short of napalm which would have made the job a bit quicker.

All in all, the job required five scorching hours, 10lbs of fertilizer, 2 bags of grass seed, 10 gallons of water, 2 trips to HomeDepot, and a bee sting to the right nipple.

Did I mention the mother of all poison ivy bushes that grows from the neighbor's wild unkempt excuse of a yard, whose endless taproots and suffocating tendrils had taken over the entire southeast end section of the then not maintained but soon-to-be outdoor oasis?

the roommate and I hacked the crap out of it and I probably will continue having to do so without end as its source is on the property next door. We luckily got the job done sans the acquisition of any ghastly rashes.

I have a very clear picture of how the entire project should hopefully look like when complete, not too mention some grandiose ideas I would like to take on, such as the creating of a pond adjacent the fig tree, and smaller ones like the addition of bamboo and perhaps a small area for veggies and herbs.

Perhaps I might just try and stick to a greener earthwise plan and stick to local native perennials. That one thing which will definitely remain an unchanged fixture is the grapevine which weaves (refer to picture above) through the pergola over the backdoor terrace.

I can't wait to pitch a hammock beneth it. It is by far one of my favorite aspects of the property, it provides shade, privacy and adds a great touch to the outdoor ambient.

For now, it is pretty much a matter of allowing time pass for the seeds to sprout and I hope this happens sooner rather then later as it presently resembles a post Agent Orange patch of Vietnam out there.

I don't know about the thumb put the fingers are definitely green, not with money because the project required funds, but with envy of the greener grass growing on the other side of the fence.