Friday, April 11, 2008

The Back Terrace

After the workers placed the last railroad tie across the back of our lot the afternoon they were here working, they spent a few minutes leveling the section of ground between the two sets of ties. The three foot deep section will provide more planting area for my garden. I have already put some lavender there and we also planted our new dwarf honey mardarin orange tree on that level.





I discovered this iris bud at the end of the lower section nestled in next to the compost bin.





I have a new friend in the garden. This little gray lizard approves of the changes we have made in the back and spends much of his day sunning on the ties or rocks that we are constantly digging out of the soil. The only time he disappears is when I turn the hose on and spray water on my lettuce leaves, parsley and rosemary plants, and tomato seedlings. The warm temperatures (high 80s) certainly agree with him.



18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh that back terrace is going to be great. The shot you got of the lizard is so cool. Well done...
:)

Unknown said...

lavendar and iris...how i wish i can plant them, and you now our lizards here are different from yours, cheers and jumpa lagi :)

Jules said...

Spring has sprung - how pretty your garden is.

Anonymous said...

Looks like somebody has a plan to be creative in the garden.

roxie said...

I think your garden companion is named Greg. He's a retired professor of philosophy from Berkley, and could tell you wonderful stories of the flower power era. But right now, he's meditating.

Barbara said...

Hope the lizards stay outside! 80 degrees plus, wow.
Glad to read you have your hot water again.
The sweater is darling and so neat.
Glad to read the meme and get to know a little more about you and some of it hilarious.

Caroline said...

I'm always so excited to find "wildlife" in our backyard. That means lizards, praying mantises, or ladybugs. We never have such lizardly lizards as your friend. Ours are more like little geckos.

We're having the warm weather too. I told my husband that I'm going to "embrace." Might as well, since I have no control of it.

Knitting Linguist said...

What great pictures! Your garden is looking lovely -- I bet you spend many peaceful hours there. I wonder if it's as hot where you are as it suddenly is here? The Santa Anas have kicked up and it's in the 90s!! I'm hiding in the shade...

violetlady said...

What a great little lizard! We don't have anything nearly as exotic as that here in Delaware. Although I did see a little snake in my yard once. I envy you having such a great garden. Parsley and lettuce - wow! How do you keep rabbits from eating it?

Flower said...

I like that lizard!! He looks like he knows what he's doing!
I have a Death Valley lizard to intoduce you to someday!

Marg said...

Glad to see you have water again. Surprisingly how hard everything seems to be without all the conveniences.
Love your back yard terrace. What a wonderful way to spend some time.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to see what your terraced garden will look like - it's going to be great!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Terraced gardens are wonderful...what fun you will have!

We found a lizard just like that on our back steps today when we got home from church. I've never seen a lizard around here in the 24 years we've been in this house.

kari and kijsa said...

The terrace will be wonderful...just in time for the warm weather!! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

kate smudges said...

Your back garden looks lovely. What fun to have new planting space. Your new garden friend is cute... I'd love to have one visit me in the garden!

Bethany said...

We could use some of that 80 degree weather here! It was cold this morning again, but the pear trees have their blossoms! I'm glad your place is getting put back together again.

Flower said...

Hey!! You caught me editing again!
What are your plans for the terrace? Ground cover,flowers, herbs or shrubs?

Anonymous said...

So beautiful garden...
Huh what a lizard! A good photo but I'm afraid of this kind of animals!