Friday, July 31, 2020

A New Patio


Well here it is, the big project reveal.  We've had a new patio constructed in the backyard, a playground for me.  This is my holiday up in the north woods, my cottage, my mid-life crisis sports-car, or whatever you'd like to think.  Mrs. F.G. thought I needed to be off the deck and sit in the shade of the trees.  Her idea, and this is the result.

As I'm sure many of you guessed, this is our big project, the first completed view out the window.  We had it poured of concrete rather than stone or inter-locking brick so it would stand up to the weight of a 500 lb. wheelchair and passenger.

I headed down off the deck, turned the corner and this was the view, the long curving path to get to the patio.  It seems enormous compared to the sketch on paper that we started out with, but they did a good job.

The patio itself is a good size rectangle, but when it gets loaded with plants in pots and chairs, it will still only leave comfortable room for me to turn around in the middle.  We have two big colourful Muskoka chairs that will end up down here (like Adirondack chairs for some of you).

Mrs.F.G. says the patio is for me, but it also opens up the gardening possibilities for her.  This long narrow strip in front of the deck will become a  'scree' garden, an area designed for small alpine plants with fine pea gravel on the surface for mulch.

And looking to the left the area between the patio and the trees will become a 'naturalized', partly shaded garden.  The nice green leaves are our Magnolia, the wheelbarrow is our neighbours.

Looking at the same area from the opposite direction, on the patio.  Her aim is to have 90% of the grass in the backyard gone in a few years.  We've hired a team of young guys to start the work next week.  We went to look at types of mulch and stone today so we're ready.

These gaps where there is still grass will all get filled in.  As you can see our existing garden here is very full, so we can do much of this by moving plants that need more space out from the existing small crowded patches.

Looking out the window, the first few plants have been put in place, though I'm sure these will evolve and be moved for a long time yet.  One of the favourite tasks of the gardener - dreaming and scheming about which plants will go where and what new plants need to be acquired.








16 comments:

  1. Terrific! This will expand your horizons. Does the concrete ramp up to the deck?

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  2. I was wondering about a ramp up to the deck too? The whole project looks and sounds fabulous!

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  3. This is just wonderful and makes my heart swell with gratitude for all the fine people involved in your care, and your life. I look forward to seeing how it will look by the end of the summer. :-)

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  4. Enjoy, enjoy! Looks good and a fine place to sit to enjoy the outdoors, birdsong and the breeze. Here's wishing you many hours of pleasure there.

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  5. What a wonderful idea and perfect for the two of you. It will bring you both much joy!!!

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  6. This is an exciting time in your back yard. It is a great project! I look forward to the end result.

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  7. It's wonderful! A new space for you and Mrs. F.G. can make it pretty too. I sure envy her gardening visions and look forward to seeing how it all turns out. :) Does she hire out? :D

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  8. Definitely a well thought out area for your comfort.
    Be Safe and Enjoy watching the master at work.

    It's about time.

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  9. We had friends at Lake Tarawera, and when I asked the man of the house what have you been doing today Keith? His reply was " Moving furniture in the garden" otherwise known as plant relocation. Love that path and patio, and the future gardens, planning and then the construction are all part of the fun.

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  10. Hello,

    The new patio and walkway look great. I can see pretty flowers all along the edges. Take care, happy weekend!

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  11. What a great addition and I'm sure it will be nice for you to be out in your yard.

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  12. Wow, this is nice...going to be really beautiful as plants get added.

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  13. This is really exciting! I miss city gardening, where you need not worry about deer. This looks delightful.

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  14. One of the men I worked with for a couple of decades came to work one day and was concerned. He said Lucy, his wife, had been standing in their back yard just staring. That means she is planning something and it will mean work or money from him! Looks like Mrs. FG may be a bit the same way. Ha. I suspect several wives are!

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  15. Nice design and work on your new patio Stew. I am sure you will get many hours of enjoyment sitting in among est all the flowers and plants Mrs.FG will plant.

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