Thursday, March 1, 2012
The First Anniversary for the New Garage - Part Two: The Stone Masons
The New Garage Series continues with the artful work of the stone masons
Choosing the surface for the new garage was a big decision. Our house is clad in local limestone and we wanted to match the house as much as possible while staying within the budget. The original plan was to save money by using stone on the front and stucco on the other three sides.
Monday, February 27, 2012
First Anniversary for the New Garage - Part One
There are times when the best way to deal with a garden problem area is to build something, not just grow something. Last year we went big on this concept by building a garage/workshop and also ended up with more usable gardening space. Here's the new garage I've shown when posting about the new landscaping along the driveway.
A year ago we started with this
In January 2011 we began a long-planned project to construct a garage/workshop in an underutilized side yard. In celebration of the first anniversary of completing the project I'm sharing some of the planning and construction process.
The original driveway ended at the double gate and the yard beyond was an eyesore. Here's a view of the area from the roof of the house.
A rocky south-facing slope in direct sun most of the day, it was the least inviting spot in the yard making it the perfect spot to build a garage/workshop to handle the overflow from our ever growing list of DIY projects.
In addition to the functional requirements, a top priority was that the new construction should look like the house which is "Shed" style. We based the plans on the New England saltbox because it provided flexible space and similar lines to the house. We also decided to go with a wide one-car garage instead of a full two-car in order to leave some gardening space between the house and garage.
While most projects around here are DIY, a new garage is not something we would construct by ourselves. We both have extensive experience in construction and project management so we acted as our own contractor on the project and subbed everything else out.
After developing our plans we hired an engineer to design the foundation as required by the city. Once the engineering drawings were approved and the permits acquired, we were ready to go. The foundation contractor dropped off really cool equipment the first day.
I watched the work from an upstairs window, best to stay safe when these guys are moving this equipment around
The crew unearthed this huge stone which they moved into place for us to use as a bench facing the creek. It's roughly 4'x3' and we estimate it weighs at least 400 lbs. We had about five minutes to decide and no changing our minds now. The rock bench will be incorporated into a low wall and garden under the trees. In the background you can see where some of that top soil ended up and the beginnings of a new garden between the house and garage.
After the forms were prepared, we had big cement trucks in the driveway too. We did have to trim a few secondary tree limbs from the beautiful live oak to the right, fortunately the largest limb across the drive remained untouched.
It rained for the first time in months
Rain is good for cement, it cures slowly and results in a stronger slab
It was a big day when the frame began to go up
Finally the roof went up, the attic is large enough for lots of storage and we ran water lines if someone wants to convert it to living space in the future.
A view from the side, the building steps down the hill with the workshop on the the back separate from the garage. The space on the second level can be used as a studio when I have messy projects.
It really started to look like a building once the sides were enclosed and the roof is decked
Standing seam roof to match the house
Wrapped and ready for the stone exterior, we had a rare snow delay.
It was cold too, the temperature stayed below freezing for three days. The construction crews I worked with in Boston would have thought this was great weather to work in, here in San Antonio they took a few days off.
After the snow melted and the weather warmed up we were ready to get back on track.
Stay tuned for Part Two - The Stone Masons
A year ago we started with this
In January 2011 we began a long-planned project to construct a garage/workshop in an underutilized side yard. In celebration of the first anniversary of completing the project I'm sharing some of the planning and construction process.
The original driveway ended at the double gate and the yard beyond was an eyesore. Here's a view of the area from the roof of the house.
In addition to the functional requirements, a top priority was that the new construction should look like the house which is "Shed" style. We based the plans on the New England saltbox because it provided flexible space and similar lines to the house. We also decided to go with a wide one-car garage instead of a full two-car in order to leave some gardening space between the house and garage.
While most projects around here are DIY, a new garage is not something we would construct by ourselves. We both have extensive experience in construction and project management so we acted as our own contractor on the project and subbed everything else out.
After developing our plans we hired an engineer to design the foundation as required by the city. Once the engineering drawings were approved and the permits acquired, we were ready to go. The foundation contractor dropped off really cool equipment the first day.
I watched the work from an upstairs window, best to stay safe when these guys are moving this equipment around
The crew unearthed this huge stone which they moved into place for us to use as a bench facing the creek. It's roughly 4'x3' and we estimate it weighs at least 400 lbs. We had about five minutes to decide and no changing our minds now. The rock bench will be incorporated into a low wall and garden under the trees. In the background you can see where some of that top soil ended up and the beginnings of a new garden between the house and garage.
After the forms were prepared, we had big cement trucks in the driveway too. We did have to trim a few secondary tree limbs from the beautiful live oak to the right, fortunately the largest limb across the drive remained untouched.
It rained for the first time in months
Rain is good for cement, it cures slowly and results in a stronger slab
It was a big day when the frame began to go up
Finally the roof went up, the attic is large enough for lots of storage and we ran water lines if someone wants to convert it to living space in the future.
A view from the side, the building steps down the hill with the workshop on the the back separate from the garage. The space on the second level can be used as a studio when I have messy projects.
It really started to look like a building once the sides were enclosed and the roof is decked
Standing seam roof to match the house
Wrapped and ready for the stone exterior, we had a rare snow delay.
It was cold too, the temperature stayed below freezing for three days. The construction crews I worked with in Boston would have thought this was great weather to work in, here in San Antonio they took a few days off.
After the snow melted and the weather warmed up we were ready to get back on track.
Stay tuned for Part Two - The Stone Masons
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Going, going, gone!
Project Topsoil is done! I'd do a victory dance if I felt like dancing. We did it all ourselves and finished around 3:00 this afternoon in just over 72 hours.
Friday afternoon
Friday afternoon
Friday, February 24, 2012
Gardening on the Rocks
You might not understand getting excited about a dump truck of dirt arriving. But with our 80% rock soil called caliche here in north San Antonio, dirt is an important commodity. Somewhat like the movie "Waterworld", if you know what I mean. This load of sandy loam topsoil will keep us busy the next few days.
Most of my gardening is in raised beds and I was running of places to plant so we ordered this topsoil two weeks ago. Then it began to rain and rain so they couldn't deliver it until yesterday. The first time in two years rain could have caused such a long delay.
Finally, this big dump truck showed up yesterday. Yippee!
Our driveway usually seems too big until we need to fit in a dump truck. That's my husband making sure the truck misses the power lines and everything else. During college summers he worked as a railroad brakeman -- A skill that still comes in handy from time to time.
He even checked to make sure the truck was empty. And in his spare time sticks his head into alligator mouths. Whooooaaaa.
"Yep, looks empty to me." Now we just need to move that big pile around to the new raised beds in the back yard.
Twenty four hours later the pile is going down....slowly.
Soon I'll have plenty of new planting beds to show you.
Most of my gardening is in raised beds and I was running of places to plant so we ordered this topsoil two weeks ago. Then it began to rain and rain so they couldn't deliver it until yesterday. The first time in two years rain could have caused such a long delay.
Finally, this big dump truck showed up yesterday. Yippee!
Our driveway usually seems too big until we need to fit in a dump truck. That's my husband making sure the truck misses the power lines and everything else. During college summers he worked as a railroad brakeman -- A skill that still comes in handy from time to time.
He even checked to make sure the truck was empty. And in his spare time sticks his head into alligator mouths. Whooooaaaa.
"Yep, looks empty to me." Now we just need to move that big pile around to the new raised beds in the back yard.
Twenty four hours later the pile is going down....slowly.
Soon I'll have plenty of new planting beds to show you.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Plant ABC's - F is for Fuligo Septica
Today's choice for the ABC's of my garden is this gross looking Fuligo Septica or Dog Vomit Slime Mold. Ewwwww. I didn't make this up it's really named after dog puke. It was even "fungus of the month" on this site.
It appeared in the mulch out front just after the recent rains quit. When I sat down to research it and saw the words "Dog Vomit Slime Mold" pop up, I was pretty sure I had found a match because that's exactly how it looks.
The good news is that we've had enough rain this year to grow things like mold and fungus. Better than the drought of 2011, which I hope we will remember as the worst in Texas history.
Gardening isn't always about the pretty pictures. Just had to share.
It appeared in the mulch out front just after the recent rains quit. When I sat down to research it and saw the words "Dog Vomit Slime Mold" pop up, I was pretty sure I had found a match because that's exactly how it looks.
The good news is that we've had enough rain this year to grow things like mold and fungus. Better than the drought of 2011, which I hope we will remember as the worst in Texas history.
Gardening isn't always about the pretty pictures. Just had to share.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Plant ABC's - E is for Elaeagnus
The ABC's of plants in my garden continues with Elaeagnus. Yes, that Elaeagnus, the one commonly known as Russian Olive and sometimes derisively referred to as "Ugly Agnes". This plant not only serves an important function in my front yard, it does so beautifully. Elaeagnus is the plant with the deep green leaves in the midst of the trees.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Waterfront Property
Our house isn't usually a waterfront property, but the view changes quickly when the rains come. During a rain the normally dry creek can become a raging torrent and a visually interesting part of our landscape. It's certainly nice to relax on the deck with a borrowed view of the creek and then there are rainy days like today.
The creek does show on maps as a "seasonal creek" though it's so small it doesn't have a name. Around here that means it only has water when it rains enough, usually more than one inch in a single day. On those days we enjoy our waterfront property.
We've had so much rain the ground is saturated and fresh rain is more likely to run off into the creek as it did this morning.
Rain here is welcome because it also means the aquifer is recharging after nearly two years of drought. Excess water from our creek flows into Salado Creek, the San Antonio River and eventually to San Antonio Bay near The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf of Mexico where the famous whooping cranes spend their winter.
Most of the time when there's water in the creek it's too wet to sit outside, but we can enjoy it from the kitchen. Here's the view from the deck just in front of the kitchen windows this morning
...and a typical morning view. When it's dry the creek provides a nice view from the house and is the source of food and shelter for the wildlife we enjoy in our yard.
The creek spreads out downhill away from the house and we're high enough that flooding is not a concern.
Back in September 2009, Hurricane Hermine put a lot of fast moving water in the creek
We've even seen a flash flood in dry weather when it rained just north of us. It all makes for an interesting and changing feature in the landscape.
The creek does show on maps as a "seasonal creek" though it's so small it doesn't have a name. Around here that means it only has water when it rains enough, usually more than one inch in a single day. On those days we enjoy our waterfront property.
We've had so much rain the ground is saturated and fresh rain is more likely to run off into the creek as it did this morning.
Rain here is welcome because it also means the aquifer is recharging after nearly two years of drought. Excess water from our creek flows into Salado Creek, the San Antonio River and eventually to San Antonio Bay near The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf of Mexico where the famous whooping cranes spend their winter.
Most of the time when there's water in the creek it's too wet to sit outside, but we can enjoy it from the kitchen. Here's the view from the deck just in front of the kitchen windows this morning
...and a typical morning view. When it's dry the creek provides a nice view from the house and is the source of food and shelter for the wildlife we enjoy in our yard.
The creek spreads out downhill away from the house and we're high enough that flooding is not a concern.
Back in September 2009, Hurricane Hermine put a lot of fast moving water in the creek
We've even seen a flash flood in dry weather when it rained just north of us. It all makes for an interesting and changing feature in the landscape.
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