Backyard Magic

Like the earth itself, our backyard has evolved over the years.

The Jungle Age predated our arrival in 2003.

Our first kid arrived in 2004, beginning a ten year period known as The Broken Toy Age.

This overlapped with The Weed Age (which continues to this day).

By 2014, I finally had some time and energy for the yard, thus beginning The Great Gardening Age.

There were years—maybe a decade!—in which the yard was largely ignored and had to fend for itself. I had three little kids and 95% of my energy went toward keeping them alive. Any yard project that required more than twenty minutes at a time was penciled into the next decade.

But life is a little less hectic now that the kiddos are older, and gardening has become one of my favorite hobbies. On weekends you’ll find me covered in dirt, and I love it!

2003: the northeast corner of our yard before any changes.

A year ago I considered posting about our yard projects but I was concerned that the timing was wrong. I did not want the post to come off as insensitive or braggy, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. My friend M said that it might give people a boost to see something bright and colorful during a time when our spirits felt bleak. Still, I decided to wait, and I truly hope this piece comes across as cheerful and encouraging rather than as a brag fest.

Over the years, we enjoyed various aspects of our yard. We liked that the previous owners planted trees—they wanted this place to feel like home, rather than a temporary stop. The apricot tree was pretty and produced a handful of apricots (one year it yielded exactly one apricot, but why split hairs?). The overgrown tangle of trees and weeds provided nooks and crannies for our kids to explore when they were tiny. There were many hiding places for Easter eggs. It worked for us, so why change things? Plus, I was super busy with the kids and the yard was not an urgent matter. But at some point the kids grew and I could do a few “me” things, like working more in our yard. 

We added a few plants over the years, but the biggest change came in early 2018, when Hubby built a home office in our back yard. Hubby and I are both DIYers, and although I helped a little, he built it himself and did an amazing job. The color scheme and design matched our house, and soon I felt like it had always been there.

Winter 2018: Hubby's office is in the same corner that you see in the photo above.

Hubby's office, designed and built by my hubby, modest man who hates compliments. I think it's awesome.

I decided to build a garden wall, as the office met the patio in a way that seemed too abrupt. Plants would soften the transition. I discovered that I love building planters, which helped organize the yard. The geometry of the concrete block planters contrasted well against the organic shapes of the flowers and plants. 

The garden wall / planter I built below Hubby's office.

Once the office was in, I started looking at the yard differently. I wanted the yard to reflect us, rather than the previous owners. The apricot tree was dead, and needed to be removed. I took a long look at the yard and realized that I wanted to take out three other trees, too. Yet, I was racked with guilt because taking out four trees (even if one was dead) felt wrong to me. One tree was a dwarf orange, only waist tall, so it wasn’t like I was killing an ancient Sequoia tree. But still, I felt badly. Eventually I decided that it was okay for us to make our yard how we want it. Removing the trees opened up the yard a lot, and my ideas started flowing. (Side note: if you are a very stubborn person, you can cut down trees by yourself, refusing help from anyone else. You need a reciprocating saw, and it’s possible your hands will be unusable for two days afterward, too sore or cramped to do anything. But it can be done!)

The back fence after trees were gone, before I added planters.

The previous owners added a patio in sections and a raised brick planter at the back of the yard. “Planter” sounds small but this area is big—fourteen feet wide by thirty feet long, and it’s about a foot higher than the patio. Once I started removing trees, weeds and overgrowth, I found more brick walls that had been covered by leaves, weeds and dirt. It felt exciting—like stumbling upon ancient Mayan ruins!—well, maybe not super old or Mayan. But still, it was fun to unearth walls I’d never seen, and the walls gave me some direction for how to create other zones in the yard. 

Who knew that a brick divider wall was hidden under robust weeds?

                                                                                                                                                                         

A few drawings to illustrate the changes made in our yard:

2019: trees are gone. Wall is found. Pool is deflated. Dirt is...dirt. Mama is tired.

2019--Building a planter against the back fence.

Planter wall, including some cuttings from friends.

In 2019 I made a peacock garden mosaic, and built two more concrete block planters. I also bought gray cement pavers to put in front of Hubby’s office, but I got distracted and they sat in a heap in the yard for months. 

Some of the pavers I painted.
Mixing and matching is marvelous and magnificent.

More pavers. Keeping it lively.

March 2020: the pavers are not finished but at least I started.

In 2020 I built one more planter, and finally got stern with myself about painting the pavers to install in front of Hubby’s office. I wanted an eclectic vibe, and I was inspired by blue and white Moroccan and Mexican tiles I saw online. I used inexpensive blue acrylic and I hand-painted designs onto the pavers. There are a few repeats but most are unique, and it’s a playful mix of traditional looks, modern spatter-painted pavers, and space age designs. I love to mix and match. The painted pavers may not endure for a hundred years, but eighteen months later they still look great. This paver “patio” goes with our blue accent color and provides pattern and whimsy.

During the stressful, isolated months from 2020 through 2021, gardening was a lifejacket for me. In the early months of COVID-19, I didn’t go into stores, so I wasn’t buying materials or plants. But container gardening allowed me to rearrange plants out back, and working in the dirt was soothing to my soul. Doing something that made our yard look good gave me a boost during the pandemic, when I felt helpless and anxious. 

2020

I used river rock from the front yard to fill in spaces.

Summer 2020.

 Lessons I’ve learned and want to share:

1.       When you are redesigning or refreshing a space, see if there are existing elements that work for you (like our brick planter). If so, use some of what is already there. This cuts down on cost, effort and time. Plus, it makes you think more creatively because you are mixing old with new, rather than using a blank slate, and you often you get a more interesting effect.

2.       It’s okay to make your space your own. If you decide to remove something, be it a wall or tree or whatever it is, you’re not a criminal! It’s your space and it should reflect you.

3.       Be patient and celebrate each finished stage, big or small. It’s tempting to want everything to look finished right away. Who doesn’t like immediate gratification? But when a project happens in stages, I appreciate each victory, thereby extending my satisfaction.

4.       Try your hand at DIY projects. They are gratifying because they have your stamp on them. Plus, you save money (sure, they take more time but think of this time as in investment).

 To be honest, our yard still looks a little like a construction site. It’s not finished and may never be, as I tend to rearrange things every few months. The old me would have wanted to share photos only after everything was finished and amazing. The new me knows that perfection does not exist and that the quest for it only pressures me. Sharing real photos, like our giant dirt pile, reminds us that no one’s yard or life is flawless. 

And so, to keep things relatable, here’s a list of what else was not pictured: weeds, occasional doggy doo, plant leaves with chomp holes from caterpillars, dog hair on the edge of the patio, more weeds, a gopher hole, supplies jumbled in the side yards, spider webs, bird poop on the planters, rotting premature persimmons that fell on the ground…and more weeds.

Years ago someone said something a bit snarky to me. A mutual friend described all the creative things I do and the other lady said, “Oh, well, I don’t have time for all that.” Her righteous tone implied that I spent time on meaningless stuff, whereas she was doing important things. I shook it off but years later, I almost feel a need to explain my life. Yes, I am lucky that I can spend time on my yard. Sure, it’s not essential, but it brings me joy. My family comes first. I love teaching. I do the chores that need doing. But in my leftover time, I love gardening. It calms me, and it provides beauty (and sometimes tomatoes). My yard looks different from how it used to because I put time in daily. These progress photos span years, so this is not an overnight makeover. 

Spring 2021

Especially in the early days of parenting, I didn’t understand that self care is vital. Gradually I learned that it is important to do something that feeds your soul. If it brings you peace and doesn’t hurt others, do it! Maybe it’s playing music. Maybe it’s going to ball games. For me, it’s reading and gardening. Find whatever it is that feeds your spirit.  

Summer 2021.

Now where was I? Yes, gardening. Anyway, if you love DIY (Do It Yourself) projects the way we do, or if you’re willing to try them to save on cost, you will be amazed at what you can do yourself. Some of my supplies (bricks and plant cuttings) I got for free online—one neighbor’s trash is another’s treasure, right? Making a place look great is not necessarily about spending a lot—it’s about using your imagination. Buy the smaller plant for a better price, and wait for it to grow. Patience will reward you. You need some time, a modest budget, supplies, and the interest in making it your own.

I hope this backyard refresh brightened your day, and I’ll see you again soon, here on the blog. School is starting up and before long I will have loads of student art to share. ‘Til then, I will be moving potted plants around, cursing at the weeds, occasionally finding a Hot Wheels car or Lego brick under layers of dirt, and watching Mother Earth work her magic…

Wacky Wednesday #98: Postage Stamps

I’m back again with another Wacky Wednesday costume I made from everyday objects. This time it’s postage stamps. It’s been a long time since my last Wacky Wednesday (over a year!). For many Wednesdays, I had a valid reason: I was teaching art at school, and costumes would have to wait. But then, a certain virus derailed all Wednesday plans, all over the planet. 

In theory, the order to stay at home meant I could make wacky costumes every Wednesday. Except for two things. Reason #1: it’s not fun to wear these costumes only at home. Being out in public to surprise and amuse my people was a big part of my creative impulse. And Reason #2 (which is really the bigger reason): I was depressed. And being wacky when you’re depressed is not doable. There were days when I felt like myself, and other days when I felt anxious and resentful. Why get into that here? Because being real about all these mixed feelings helps. I’m wacky, but I’m human, too.

So I decided that the next Wacky Wednesday costume would wait until my spirits had lifted enough to match my outfit. My Wacky Wednesdays involve the use of everyday objects, elevated to new heights by becoming wearable art. And what is more of an everyday object than a postage stamp? Most of us see them almost daily. But if you stop to look at them closely, they are far from mundane. They are tiny pieces of art. And put together they can create a colorful, textured mosaic of wearable art.

I have collected stamps for decades. Not “collecting,” as in going to stamp shows, and preserving mint condition stamps in albums. I have kept used stamps on envelopes because I’m a sentimental person (and borderline hoarder) and I’ve kept hundreds of letters from friends and family over thirty years, since before the Age of the Internet. I have almost 900 stamps, and 440 of them made it onto this outfit.

There are stamps showing almost anything you can imagine—from historical people or moments, to sports figures. From hobbies to photos you can upload into custom stamps. At some point someone saw the potential for stamps to raise awareness (and money) for causes such as breast cancer and the protection of endangered animals including African elephants, marine turtles, tigers, great apes, rhinoceroses and Asian Elephants. I love that something as small as a postage stamp can have a big impact. 

Fun fact: our modern postage stamps have been in use since 1840. But way back in 1661 postmarks were used (created by a hand stamp) to deliver local mail in London.

Have you seen stamps that are not rectangular or square? They are unusual but there are stamps that are circles, triangles and hexagons, to name a few. There are even scratch ‘n sniff stamps now!

Although I was not sure what to do with my collection of used stamps, I saw their potential. Some are from the ‘80s and ‘90s, when a stamp cost twenty two cents. A few years ago my mom gave me some stamps that predated that. It’s been fun to look at stamps from decades ago. Some are postmarked from countries far away. Some are kind of plain. Others are colorful and whimsical. There are people who would find it odd that I’m not trying to sell this mini collection. But most of these stamps are not in mint condition and I’m not interested in selling. I’m motivated by creating. But how to group them on my costume? By color? Country? Image? Value? I ended up grouping the stamps into the following categories: patriotic, holiday, foreign, historical, famous people, nature, animals, pop culture, causes and miscellaneous. Some stamps were hard to categorize: did Elvis belong in Famous People, or in Pop Culture? I had multiple Elvis stamps, so I put some in each of those categories.

Got stamps? Got a mask? Got stamps on a mask?

If you’ve been reading my Wacky Wednesday blog posts since I started this journey in 2015, thank you! If you haven’t been reading since day one, that’s okay, too. We’re getting close to wrapping up this chapter, and it makes me nostalgic. I like the idea of completing this with the round number of 100. It’s been so fun to create and blog about costumes. There are two more WWs to create but I'm almost ready to call this chapter complete. There are a lot of other creative projects I want to do, so don’t worry—there will still be creative blog posts coming soon to an inbox near you…

Fear not. This wacky gal is not leaving anytime soon...

 

Wacky Wednesday #96: Sunflowers

Oh, it’s been ages since my last WW (nine months). But during the school year I teach art on Wednesdays so the chances to dress up in my handmade creations are few and far between. (I’m still determined to complete 100, but it’s taking a while!) This summer I had big plans to do at least several WWs. But the weeks have raced by. I’ve had a good summer, hanging out with the kiddos and the hubby, plus dirt-shoveling, weed-pulling, painting, gardening and reading. I also taught two weeks of art camp, so some of my Wednesdays were accounted for already. Still, I’m beyond overdue for another wacky creation!

Why sunflowers? A few months ago I noticed a lot of very tall, beautiful sunflowers in San Diego. Immediately I knew that this would be a super fun Wacky Wednesday theme. Sunflowers are cheerful, colorful summer flowers, and I love the variety in their heights and bright blooms.

I call this a hat but it’s not like it provides protection from the sun or rain, so maybe it’s a head ornament. Either way, it was my favorite part of this costume. I made it with pipe cleaners, felt, hot glue and a plastic knife. Yes, you read that right. I needed something lightweight but rigid to keep the flower from flopping over. 

Did you know that sunflowers symbolize adoration, loyalty and longevity? 

And who knew that the yellow petals and brown centers are actually individual flowers? There are as many as 2,000 flowers in a single sunflower bloom (and up to 2,000 seeds).

The tallest sunflower on record was over 30 feet tall, grown in Germany.

Let’s talk numbers. I always challenge myself to create a costume for as little money as possible.

Tank top and skirt (already had):               $    0

Artificial flowers (99 Cent Store):               $ .99

Felt for flowers and leaves:                       $4.00    

Pipe cleaners for hat:                                $1.00

Total cost:                                                  $5.99

It was such fun to wear my cheery costume all over San Diego today. People kept telling me how much it made them smile, and hey—that’s really a big part of what Wacky Wednesday is about for me.

I hope you enjoyed this costume and that you are having a peaceful summer.

Til next time, this is Wacky Sarah, signing off. If you need me I’ll be outside playing in the dirt…

Take Me out to the Parkway….

August: on a sunny San Diego Saturday I’m not at the beach, the bay or the salon. I’m covered in dirt, shoveling soil at home. It’s 81 degrees. Sweat is dripping down my front, my back, my face. I’m the essence of glamour.

No one is forcing me to toil like this on a weekend. This choice is mine. The parkway strip between the street and the sidewalk desperately needs a makeover and so 81 degrees or not, I’m moving dirt, getting blisters, waving at neighbors, and sweating. I love it.

This makeover is mostly about decreasing the number of weeds in the parkway strip in front of our house. We have been here fifteen years, and for a lot of that time, certain projects simply had to wait. I have three kids to keep alive. But the kiddos are more self-sufficient now, and this summer I decided that the Natural Look (aka weed patch) had reached its expiration date. This is a chance to give a new look to the front of our house. My requirements: it must be low maintenance, visually interesting, and budget friendly.

Removing the weeds is easier said than done. They’re hearty and stubborn and they’ve dug in their heels. It is taking a lot of shovel work to dislodge them. They are the cockroaches of the plant world—hard to eliminate and they like to crop up in unexpected places, even when you think you got them all.

Here is a photo of the parkway strip before the makeover:

It has some personality, with the pops of blue and my succulents. But the weeds are not part of the look I want. Yet how do you get rid of them? Weed cloth was under all the weeds in front, and still, weeds grew. So I’m digging up all the weeds, and I will pour concrete pavers in the front. I’m going to reposition the blue planters I created a year ago and use plants I already have. Concrete for the pavers is inexpensive and I am reusing our river rock. Frugal and Fabulous is the theme.

September: several times during this project I have questioned my own sanity. I love challenging myself, but where is the line between a healthy challenge and self-torture? It’s blurry. At times progress feels slow. But I can see the progress, and this feels satisfying. When you have young kids, there are so many chores that never seem to be completed. (See: laundry, cooking and dish-washing.) The moment you finish certain chores, they start piling up again. So seeing the progress in Operation Dirt is encouraging. Also, I’m getting a great workout for my back, arms, shoulders and legs. I’m doing it all myself, which feels good. Or crazy. It alternates.

Here are the stats:

·         1,740 pounds of dry concrete mix is what I used. (The weight once I added water? Heavy.)

·         43 feet by 4 feet is the size of the parkway strip.

·         36 pavers is how many I created.

·         $18 dollars is what I spent on mosaic pieces and stained glass. (I smashed them into  slivers, so I got a lot of bang for my buck).

·        101 bricks were used (free from Craigslist!).

·         Gallons of sweat rolling off my body? Countless.

Late September: I have been mixing and shoveling hundreds of pounds of concrete. I’m feeling pretty fierce! But my forearms feel like they have been trampled by a gorilla. Still, I’m making progress and the weeds are gone.

Some days I look at my project and feel like Sisyphus, rolling the boulder up a hill only to have it crash down. Will I ever be finished? Other days I look at my work and feel self-conscious about my mistakes. And on certain days I like how it all looks, and I am proud that I gave it a try. Stepping out of my comfort zone is helping me to grow.

In the grand scheme of things, this project is not super important. Being a good mom and a decent person are much more important to me than how the parkway strip looks. But I see this strip many times each day and giving it a makeover is giving me a lift. (And blisters.) Making it look better is worth my effort. My neighbors’ gardens give me a boost, so if something colorful in our yard also gives our neighbors a boost, it’s a win-win.

And isn’t that how life is? Oftentimes it’s the small things that give a lot of satisfaction….