Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Chopping And Hacking!!

Not in the kitchen, although I've been known to chop and hack there too, but this time in the back yard.  The oleander bushes had pretty much taken over and grown so tall they were damaging the roof.  I cut down most of it and you will remember the yard crew took out the stump.

That has left this big blank spot in the back yard.  Anyone with desert experience have any suggestions as to what I might replant?  There is drip irrigation at this spot, so water is not a problem.  Landscaping is not my forte!
On and off over the last few days I've been trimming these rose bushes.  They were all as high as the fence and had not been cut back in a very long time.  Since it's on a slope, they put the decorator brick down to help keep soil in place when it rains.    
Five boxes of trimmings later, I had chopped and hacked them into submission.  On one trip to Ace Hardware, I also picked up some fertilizer for roses to give them a head start on spring.  
I don't have any idea what this bush is, but it's a happy camper, growing like crazy with bright yellow tips.  If I can find some at a nursery, this one would work in my empty spot, along with something else .... NOT oleander!!  Neither the rain nor the freeze nor hot sun seems to deter this beauty.
Our little quilt group met yesterday, where I sang the praises of the new ruler I bought at the quilt show.  You can tell the difference ... the one on the left has a different color and feeling on the bottom side, making it non-slip when cutting fabric.  The brighter yellow one on the right slips easily, making straight cuts hard to do.  Believe me, there's nothing worse than crooked cuts when making a quilt.  
Chef Patty made a huge crock pot of posole, to which I added cornbread.  Mighty tasty and something I would never think to make.

My only other purchase from the quilt show was this.  It looks like hand tooled leather and it's thicker than normal material.  When I saw the bolt on the table, I snatched it right up and bought every bit.  Only 1-1/2 yards, but enough for borders.  I plan on using up every square inch of it.
When in Green Valley the other day, Pat showed me some beautiful backing fabric that I discovered I need for the Paris quilt, so I'm headed that direction (camera in hand just in case) to see what I can find.  I wonder if there are any antique stores over there?





17 comments:

  1. You are doing a good job of cleaning up your yard, as what to plant? Sorry no idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks George ... I'll check with the local nursery.

      Delete
  2. You made me wonder how my rose bushes at home are faring. I didn't have many but they were tiny. I do love spring back home to see things popping up that we've planted.
    I love that yellow flowery bush too! That would be nice in that spot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to grow lot of roses in the old days. I'm hoping I can bring a little life back into these.

      Delete
  3. My mother used to hand tool leather belts and purses; I agree this fabric looks like her work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It looks exactly like that. I used to make leather purses and belts by the dozen. Still have all my tools. One of these days I'll get back to it.

      Delete
  4. Your favorite nursery can probably identify the yellow plant. It's really pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  5. To fill in the hole in the picture Low ground cover try Rosemary
    Take a piece of paper an draw a diagram with measurements
    Go to a reputable nursery not Home Depot or Lowe's
    Put in 3 or 4 now close to the walkway next year you come back put three more in until you get it filled out The nursery will tell you about how far apart They need to be
    As for the roses if you cut them about 12/15 inches from the ground they will be fat instead of tall
    Make a 6 inch trough around with rosebush
    When you water it The water should sit in the trough and seep down
    Roses love water
    At the same time
    Take a piece of bamboo
    stick it in the ground and cut the bamboo at 25 inches
    when the roses grow to the top of the bamboo cut the New shoots at the height of the bamboo it'll start new shooting somewhere else Keep doing it
    If you want to use fertilizer just use simple miracle-grow

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You do know your roses!! I will do all of the above. I even have rosemary out front I could take cuttings from.

      Delete
  6. It should have said make a 6 inch trough around the rosebush
    So it looks like a moat with the rosebush and dirt in the middle

    ReplyDelete
  7. If you don't want to do anything with that spot don't put mulch
    They have what they call tire shredding it looks like mulch it comes in 2 colors red and black (Home Depot or Lowe's carries it ) it lasts three times longer than bark mulch and it doesn't attract bugs or float away
    If you want to you can scoop it up with a shovel and put it somewhere else

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All the mulch around here is of the rock variety!! I've seen the tire stuff and it looks nice.

      Delete
  8. I think the plant is a Silver Spurge or a Upright Myrtle Spurge. Not a plant expert, but a good researcher.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew the Librarian would figure it out. Thank you. At least I have an idea of what to ask for.

      Delete
  9. The little yellow bush is really cute.
    The tool for making straight cuts without slipping that is a great find!!!



















    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what I thought .. making straight cuts is definitely a plus in quilting.

      Delete