New backyard Beds

[Joel143]

Spectacular Tony. Big transformation from when you first started. And a lot of new additions...and yes no large monstrous as when you first started. I do see the shade house finish and full to capacity and....did you relocate the fish pond? Don't think I remember it being in the corner of the yard/fence. The aloe's really took nicely. Actually everything took nicely. So envious of your garden. Did this recent cold blast Cal had affect your garden?

Also I've read...again...through your entire thread, if I may ask, what did you use to amend your soil?

[John C]

Wow! It has really filled in nicely! Beautiful gardens, Tony!

[SnowFella]

It's quite the backyard indeed! Not really sure how many times I've looked through this thread and drooled!

Can't find the thread right now but Buck Hemenway's frontyard transformation is equally impressive too!

Edit: found it
http://cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6464

[Tony]

Spectacular Tony. Big transformation from when you first started. And a lot of new additions...and yes no large monstrous as when you first started. I do see the shade house finish and full to capacity and....did you relocate the fish pond? Don't think I remember it being in the corner of the yard/fence. The aloe's really took nicely. Actually everything took nicely. So envious of your garden. Did this recent cold blast Cal had affect your garden?

Also I've read...again...through your entire thread, if I may ask, what did you use to amend your soil?

Sorry I haven't gotten back sooner Joel.

There are two water features in the garden. One has koi and the other just has standard goldfish in it.
I have had a few minor frost issues but nothing that wont grow out eventually.
When I created the new beds in the back yard, I used Decomposing granite and mixed it in with the native sandy loam.

I will post more images this weekend when I get a chance.

Thanks everyone!

[Tony]

Here are some examples of recent frost damage on Kalanchoe beharensis.

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And here are a couple of recent images of my little water features.

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[Joel143]

Sorry to hear there was frost damage. Now will your Kalanchoe beharensis come back? Might have to cut it back? Nice second pond....nice looking koi in there. Nice comet goldfish too. Have you had any problems with predators? I had a pond where I had koi and goldfish. Thought someone was stealing my goldfish at one time until I noticed one night it was an owl swooping in and taking them. Looks like your fiddle leaf fig tree got hit by the cold too.

[SnowFella]

Looks like your goldfish have company there Tony! No wonder they are all huddled up in one corner!

[yorkiemiki]

Hey Tony great job with the transformation. Very inspiring and beautiful plants you have.

I'm in the middle of transforming my hell strip in the front of my apartment.

Any more updates you got? \

[Tony]

Oh wow! Thanks for resurrecting this thread Yorkiemiki.
Actually, I have sold and replaced most of the spiney cacti in the ground with succulents, mostly aloes, this year. I will shoot some update pix and post them when I get a chance.

Sorry Joel143, I totally jelled on your reply.
Yes the Kalanchoe beharensis did recover well and now you cant even tell it was ever frost burnt.
Also this summer for the first time ever, I did loose a few prized fish thanks to a great blue heron.

[hoteidoc]

Sorry about the Koi, Tony ! My former office manager has a smaller farm pond (with some deep H20). GB's got hers too -- guess the big bright colors too tempting. She called them the Pterodactyls!

[BobbyZ]

Tony: You are one ambitous guy. You made your background into cacti dreamers paradise. The fishpond makes it into an oasis easy to walk around aith the slate stones et al. Great Job Bobby Z

[Tony]

Here are a bunch of new pix. A lot has changed this year!
A bursera microphylla (in white pot) will eventually go in that spot where the large pachycereus was.
Also new in the background, yucca linearifolia.

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This Fouquieria columnaris will remain for the time being.

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The large Aloe on the right is A. thraskii, a seed grown manfreda x agave hybrid is in the center and Echeveria cante is on the left.

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Also new this year, Calibanus hookeri and Nolina longifolia which will probably stay in a pot because they get HUGE in the ground.

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I traded a four to five foot tall, unbelieveably fast growing, Aloe dichotoma that had its sights set on taking out some power lines in a few years, for this P. lamerii with nine heads.

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Some random shots...

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[oldcat61]

That tephro makes me want to totally give up & just grow tomatoes. Sue

[Mark]

Your yard looks GREAT!!!

What made you switch the cacti for more succulents? That pachy is super cool!!


Mark

[Tony]

That tephro makes me want to totally give up & just grow tomatoes. Sue

Location, location, location! That plant grows almost year round.
Sorry Sue, I would be happy to send you a few very large cuttings for postage.