Landscaping.............

[RobinFinderson]

It's not the most envirosensitive use by a long shot, but it's much more so than it might have been. And it makes me very happy, so screw the naysayers. Plus, check out the gazebo that this C+ in jr. high wood shop built all by himself. Take that, Mr. Clift!

PAC, when I saw the first image I thought to myself, "Finally, a CUF brother who gets it." I can't express the depths of my disappointment when I realized the before/after pictures were not in the order I had hoped.

Also, that 'gazebo' looks more like an arbor to me. And you should plant something on it!

[YOhio]

"Finally, a CUF brother who gets it."

One thing I've noticed about some of my more progressive friends is how often they use the phrase "...gets it." The conversation usually goes something like this:

Progressive Friend: Did you hear Barack Obama's speech on <fill in the blank>? It's so nice to have a President who just gets it.

YOhio: What did you like about it?

PF: He just gets it.

YO: What does that mean?

PF: You don't get it.

YO: I guess I don't.

Pretentious assholes.

[RobinFinderson]

One thing I've noticed about some of my more progressive friends is how often they use the phrase "...gets it." The conversation usually goes something like this:

Progressive Friend: Did you hear Barack Obama's speech on <fill in the blank>? It's so nice to have a President who just gets it.

YOhio: What did you like about it?

PF: He just gets it.

YO: What does that mean?

PF: You don't get it.

YO: I guess I don't.

Pretentious assholes.

"Gets it" is sort of like "Mothers who know," but for people who 'get it.' Mothers who know know a fellow mother who knows. They just know it. You don't have to explain what it means to someone who just knows. I'm not sure that Obama 'gets it.' I get that he gets what we're getting, but I'm not convinced that he's got on board for the ride. Those who get it know that mothers who know don't get it. 'Cause that shit's the opposite.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Also, that 'gazebo' looks more like an arbor to me. And you should plant something on it!

The white thing in the right foreground is an arbor or pergola. The gazebo, in which Mrs. PAC and her granddaughters take high tea on balmy afternoons, is the light brown octagonal structure in the left background. Even at a distance the superb craftsmanship is obvious.

[Surfah]

PAC that is awesome. Very nice. And that is a good chunk of land. My brain started cramping thinking about what that must cost in Palo Alto. Rare you see yards like that in California anymore (size).

[PaloAltoCougar]

PAC that is awesome. Very nice. And that is a good chunk of land. My brain started cramping thinking about what that must cost in Palo Alto. Rare you see yards like that in California anymore (size).

Despite my moniker (which I adopted while posting on CB from the office back in '01), we are now proud residents of Pleasanton, California (in the East Bay). Even for this area, the lot is somewhat oversized, but it's probably half the cost it would be in Palo Alto or Los Altos.

[I.J. Reilly]

PAC, love the yard. You've done fine work with it and it makes this young'un jealous.

Robin, I'm all for sustainable yard design, using native plants, reducing run off, etc., but how could you begrudge a man a yard this beautiful? Plus, PAC seemed to go for more of the middle path with this one, anyway. No pool, proper watering techniques, pavers, and a yard that seems to incorporate a fair amount of native grasses and shrubs.

I really like the yard (not that it matters).

[il Padrino Ute]

PAC, when I saw the first image I thought to myself, "Finally, a CUF brother who gets it." I can't express the depths of my disappointment when I realized the before/after pictures were not in the order I had hoped.

Also, that 'gazebo' looks more like an arbor to me. And you should plant something on it!

Someone who gets it?

Robin, you really are a pretentious asshole. Here's an idea for you:

whenever you get the desire to tell others how to live their lives, just shut the hell up.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

This thread has drifted a bit from junkie's simple question, but RF's rip on lawns and strong advocacy for xeriscaping (if not spelling) caused me to reflect, yet again, on my constant battle between acting purely out of self-interest, or purely for the greater good. When we moved here less than one year ago, this was our backyard:


We thought of several things, including a large swimming pool (too much bother, not very enviro-conscious, and I'd frighten the neighbors), xeriscaping, a lush lawn and putting green, whatever. We settled on a mix of things designed to please and offend everyone. For the RFs of the world, we have a drip system and low flow sprinklers, all set to function before dawn, to minimize water usage. We have pavers instead of concrete. Most of the plants are native and don't require much water. But I do not live lightly upon the land, and I now have the best lawn I've had, or seen, in my lifetime, along with cool lighting (low wattage), and a pondless waterfall. Pretty much every night, as the sun sets over the hills, I like walking around the track (again, pavers) that circumscribes the yard.

It's not the most envirosensitive use by a long shot, but it's much more so than it might have been. And it makes me very happy, so screw the naysayers. Plus, check out the gazebo that this C+ in jr. high wood shop built all by himself. Take that, Mr. Clift!

Very nice PAC. I had a back lawn put in back in late March. I then landscaped the area between the lawn and the rock retaining wall that makes up my back property line. There's no house on the lot above us, but there will be eventually so I planted some attractive and fast growing trees that will give us some privacy. I then planted a number of shrubs that should grow in together and not leave too many gaps between them. A lot of people where I live put gravel in these flower bed areas, but I chose to put some small bark (bark with a lot of mulch) to both cool the area down and enrich the soil.

I'd like to use a brick similar to yours to build a path between my back patio and one of my sideyards. I haven't built a fence yet between either of my neighbors (my house was just built last year and the house on one side of me was completed last February). Because of the lack of fence, which won't probably be done until next year, I haven't landscaped the corners or along the sides of the lawn, with the exception of an evergreen oak tree I planted. I plan on putting a mound in at least one of the corners and creating a dry creek bed from the mound down along the side of my lawn- that or have someone put in a water feature (which is unlikely, I live in a dry climate and these are pretty wasteful). In the other corner, I might put in a gazebo. I just need to get the fences put in.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Just a question PAC, do you have path on the other side of the lawn to that gazebo, or does one just walk across the lawn to get to it? I'm contemplating building a path along one side or my lawn and putting in a gazebo.

[FN Phat]

Did you happen to go to the local ACE Hardware, in search of some paint, and come across Ahmed Hassan?

I will be looking forward to the episode of Yard Crashers, featuring your back yard.

Great work, PAC!

[Coach McGuirk]

Did you happen to go to the local ACE Hardware, in search of some paint, and come across Ahmed Hassan?

I will be looking forward to the episode of Yard Crashers, featuring your back yard.

Great work, PAC!

Dude, I love HGTV. Right now I am obsessed with House Hunters and House Hunters International.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Dude, I love HGTV. Right now I am obsessed with House Hunters and House Hunters International.

I got on that kick for awhile with HGTV. But I burned myself out. Now I'm just working outside on my back yard when I have spare time.

[Donuthole]

Dude, I love HGTV. Right now I am obsessed with House Hunters and House Hunters International.

Did you know the host(ess?) of that show, Suzanne Whang, is a stand up comedian who is known for her controversial and off-color jokes about Korean people? Also, I think she has a recurring role in a CSI-type show, where she sports a thick Korean accent. Not exactly how she comes off on House Hunters.

[falafel]

Did you know the host(ess?) of that show, Suzanne Whang, is a stand up comedian who is known for her controversial and off-color jokes about Korean people? Also, I think she has a recurring role in a CSI-type show, where she sports a thick Korean accent. Not exactly how she comes off on House Hunters.

Sickly sweet. That's how she comes off.

I also saw her in some movie recently, but I can't remember what it was. She was sitting next to some big star, but she didn't have any lines.