Next Year's Project

Here we are, still putting together the project for this year - the patio and today we were out looking at next year's project. Well you know how it is. As we finish this year's project we need to look forward to next year and start planning for the next major project.

We had decided that next year we will begin to tackle the hill behind the house. We've already started this with a couple of flower beds last year, but after the patio goes in it will be time for the water feature.

Today we went to the Garden Expo in Harrisburg. The theme for today was the water garden and wow, did they have some really beautiful ones! We found about four that would/could possibly be an idea for the one we will design for our garden, a water fall coming down the hill to a small pond - or not. This one has a butterfly pond at the base of the waterfall. I liked it even though it wouldn't support fish. We have a run off at the base of hill and a pond just might flood out every time it rains. This one could have a run off area so the pump isn't to stressed. It will still draw the butterflies and toad to the little puddles around the stones. It is also a natural scene and even though my patio will finish out somewhat formal, the little rill wil soften that formality. Rustic is not on the menu though Husband would be totally happy that way.

This second pond would be the water feature of my choice. Now this, I really like just the way it is. It is just formal enough without being to formal. The pond at the bottom could be kept a little more shallow if necessary and trail off to the water easement that follows the property to the road.

Husband will have a problem, I'm sure, when I tell him I want the work hired out. This is going to be more than we can handle, I'm sure but he will still argue that it is to expensive to have it done. I will plant the plants and arrange the design but some of those boulders are heavy and the digging for the pumps could be tedious and discouraging. Knowing Husband, he won't ask for help either except for me. I keep thinking that to get it done right without cutting corners it would be nice to have a little help. The water feature will skirt around the patio in spots and once the trees grow in, it will make the patio the perfect spot to relax.

We went to the expo rather late in the day because we wanted to stay for the auction later on. The hulticulture society usually purchases plants each year for this event and then will auction them off at the end of the show. The money then goes to a nonprofit organization. The plants were being sold in carts. If you buy one, you but the entire cart. We bought one cart that had on it four boxes of tulips, daffodils, crocus and grape hyacinth and I believe there are several odds and ends in one of the boxes. There was also a lovely white lilac too. But more on that another day.