I've had requests to update my backyard landscape project. This is a bit off topic so forgive me. I'll keep it in this thread. There are figs in this yard though, so somewhat on topic ;)

Before -
[img]http://niroha.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Back-Yard-Landscape-Project/i-7ntMBjv/0/L/31-L.jpg[/img]

As of today - the trellis on the left is newly completed! That is where my fan shaped espalier trees will grow.
[img]http://niroha.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Back-Yard-Landscape-Project/i-wsVm94x/0/L/DSC0069-L.jpg[/img]

I moved the figs around after this pic was taken so there is one potted fig behind each of the raised veggie beds.

This is my pride and joy. I love this swing! I kinda think a couple of potted figs on either side of the front posts would look very nice :)
[img]http://niroha.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Back-Yard-Landscape-Project/i-k4CJ4VD/0/L/DSC0010-L.jpg[/img]

[img]http://niroha.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Back-Yard-Landscape-Project/i-Qm29PxQ/0/L/DSC0033-L.jpg[/img]

It is beautiful!!  Sounds like a plan for the figs and you!  Swing - pick fig - swing - pick fig.  You're gonna love it!

Your yard really is beautiful.   You've put a lot of work into it and it shows.

Thanks for sharing with us!  Your swing is great, and you have a lot of areas of interest throughout the yard.!  Keep enjoying the fruits of your labor!
Suzi

[QUOTE=JoAnn749]It is beautiful!!  Sounds like a plan for the figs and you!  Swing - pick fig - swing - pick fig.  You're gonna love it!
[/QUOTE]

I moved the figs over. On the left is Black Spanish and on the right is Atreano.

Picture perfect.

[img]http://niroha.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Back-Yard-Landscape-Project/i-QMMRn7h/0/XL/DSC0042-XL.jpg[/img]

I think the two in the swing stole the show.

Dave - I was thinking the same thing!  They are adorable!

Thanks - I do love my pups. They will do anything for a cookie.

I'll do anything for a cookie

The backyard landscape looks great, especially incorporates with fig trees.  :) 

So... we got an automatic watering system involved. This is a good thing and it hits my fit trees pretty nicely and everyone gets a nice drink in the morning and evening. But when they put it in I had worries over the sprinkler aspect. I said they need to set the timer at times when my pups aren't out. Well, they didn't set it to the correct time. We got home from work, let the pups out and the sprinklers came up and went off for the first time today. Sadie loved it. Special toys just for her!!!

We promptly fixed the timer.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBngqOzyGlo[/video]

What is really cute is when you get an earthquake, and the whole pool goes to one side, then shifts back to the other, and spouts up... and the puppies run over to the spout, watch while the wave rolls back, sniff, and get hit in the face by the next roll.  They keep after it!  Fun for them until the wave settles down!

This happens regularly here in So CA.

Suzi

Some updates today...

Planted some pretty grasses today in front of the raised veggie beds. Nice splashes of color!
The pups look nice and proud. Poor Sadie (the one on the left) has been battling hives all day today)




My fruit trees have finally grown enough to tie down some of the limbs for direction training. Exciting :)

Of course my various squash plants have decided the trellis is a wonderful opportunity for growth.


And of course I made these little green houses for my main crop figs.

Nichole, I like the root pruning pots I see against the fence.  Awesome!

Your whole garden is amazing!  How do you keep those puppies from digging?  And, where are the chickens?

Suzi

Hmm root pruning pots. Not sure what pots you are referring to. I do have some - but they are up by the house.


The pups aren't diggers by nature. I totally lucked out. Once in a while the red/white one gets a wild hair up her butt and tries to dig into the neighbors yard (to visit him I think. She likes our kind neighbor) but that's a rare occurrence. I call her away, fill the hole and that's the end of it for another 6 months.

I'd love chickens. They were in the original plans. But they would go where my two well established hydrangeas are and I don't have the heart to rip them out. 

Soon your steps will be lined with figs.  What about a coop under the porch in the above photo, and one of those portable things to let them free-range.  You only need 2 or 3 layers to supply you with wonderful eggs daily, and fertilize your garden, eat the insects (protein to them), and they can be cuddly friends too!  UNLESS a rooster is involved!  Then you need a broom and a bat!

But the doggies will protect them from hawks and other evil creatures...

Suzi

The space underneath the small porch there is where the trash, yard waste, and recycle bins go. No spare room. Truth be told we're hoping we can purchase a new house with more land come spring. Still gonna hold on to this house though. Will rent it out and continue to keep the garden going.

In the greenhouse photo, there are figs, and something else co-mingling on the bottom right.  Has a lot of segmented leaves and is sort of gray green.  That's not a fig, is it?  If so, what is it?

Suzi

I have some melons planted in that raised bed. Two different kinds. One is a small watermelon and one is another kind of melon though I can't recall what kind right now. So either way it's some kind of melon ;)

How are the melons?  I read melons require a lot of heat, so I have never tried it. 

Beautiful.  I really like your trellis on the left.  So envious of what you can grow there especially all the free water you get.   If I lived there, I would grow forsythia. 

I'm pretty sure the melons will be a flop but only because I was so delayed in getting them planted. I picked them up at Sky nursery and the tags said they can be grown in our cooler climate so I got them then promptly forgot them. Didnt get them planted till July. There are melons actively growing but I'm not counting on them.

Put some 'all gold' grass in the ground today, on one side of my path. I put it there because a lot of dirt and mulch gets kicked over and the thyme has been struggling. The other side is doing great! I'm hoping this will provide a barrier for the thyme to take hold and protect the path and flagstone better. Not sure if it looks stupid being all asymmetric like that. Makes my OCD side twitch a little. 

Beautiful!  Watch those grass seeds, though.  Some are sharp and can burrow into a dog's feet.

Last year we had an experience with a grass seed giving Sadie a corneal ulcer. Good reminder though. Right now they're soft as cotton but I'll probably cut them before they have a chance to firm up.

In other news we scored some free wood chips off craigslist. I've done enough yard work this weekend to last me a good long while.

Looks even better!

I planted some 'cinderella squash' and I don't know what I was expecting but I know I wasn't expecting pumpkins quite this large. I guess I get to figure out how to puree and preserve a bunch of pumpkins now.

If I act like spring is around the corner, do you think it will come to me faster?

Cleaned up the yard, did some pruning if the various fruit trees and deciduous grasses (after this pic was taken). Planning on having a garden shed built for my ever-growing pile of gardening stuff.
C'mon April...

Nichole - I just love your yard!!  I've been thinking about mine and what to do with it.

First time seeing this thread.  Love the transition!

Your yard is so pretty and looks like a picture!  I love your puppies, what breed are they, they are darling :-)  You've done a lovely job.  Look forward to more photos!

I admit I had help putting my yard together. I could see it in my head but lacked the mad-skills required to make it all happen. I tried for 2 years and the more I fussed with it the worse it got (in my mind). I think it'll pay off in a few yrs if/when we sell our house. Seattle is big on the edible garden concept. Plus I love it, so either way it was time and money well spent.

Patty the girls are Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They are cousin breeds to the American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers (and English Bull Terriers). They are less common over here. Very popular in the UK. Smaller than most people expect when they meet them in person. They are both 28 lbs. They are a lot of fun :)

How I love what you've done. Absolutely gorgeous.

Wow, so beautiful.  Small yard that packs a big delivery.

I almost have a greenhouse

Congrat's on the "almost greenhouse"!  It looks fantastic and goes great with your yard.

BTW...I was on YouTube a few days ago and noticed in the sidebar what looked like your dogs.  Sure enough, it was a video posted by you and I got to see the "year in review".  It was a great video and I'm impressed that somehow Google/YouTube was able to connect us (through this site I'm assuming) since it was listed as a "video recommended for you (me)".

Sweet greenhouse! Is that a Western Red Cedar frame? Bet it was filled before it was built! Seems you can never have a big enough greenhouse. Enjoy it.

So fantastic. Please, keep this story going. I love your style, your garden area is drool worthy, then there are those pups. Thanks, your posts brighten the days.

Figaro - 
That is funny! Yes I have a youtube channel filled with dog videos. Kinda crazy that this site got youtube to recommend a dog video to someone who was probably looking up gardening videos ;)

Lumberben -
Yes I do think it is western red cedar. Right now my baby figlets are sitting outside (we had a warm day today) staring at that greenhouse. I can almost hear them growing towards it. I promised them they'd be in it by this weekend. I have no doubt it will be PACKED! If I had more space in my yard I'd definitely get a bigger one.

ChillyNPhilly -
Can you believe we're contemplating moving? I'm not attached to my house but I am attached to my yard. We found a house on 5 acres...ugh. I dunno. I love my yard but love the idea of a new house with more land. PAINFUL!

5 acres sounds ideal.

It's so peaceful. There's room for an orchard and agility equipment (I train one of my dogs in canine agility). Took one of my dogs there while I talked to someone about tree removal. She had a blast wandering around the field and woods. All the lots there are 2-5 acre lots.

Sigh. Big decision.

The greenhouse is up and the shed is nearly done!

The greenhouse looks awesome, thanks for posting all of the pictures in this thread. The pictures are great and you have a beautiful garden.

Beautiful.  That rainy weather sure makes gorgeous gardens.  

Nice!