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Episode #20... The Bus Stop

Willy's Place » The Further Misadventures of Wild Willy
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by Wild Willy on June 05, 2006 04:05 AM
The further misadventures of Wild Willy, the Hillbilly Gardener

Episode #20... The Bus Stop
A Wild Willy Sequel

the ugly, ugly bus


As I stared at that ugly, ugly bus for the past twenty some years, the only thoughts and vision I had was to extend the lawn by simply raking the area planting grass seed...

However, reality set in when I saw the damage to the immediate area and adjoining lawn caused by the dozer and bus as we pushed it it to its new location. It was a mess, to say the least!
with rake in hand, I headed off on a mission


After carefully assessing the situation, I came to the conclusion that it would be easier to patch the scars in the lawn and cover the bare dirt where the bus sat with garden bark, adding a small path, bench and just a few special plants. I thought that I might even add a small water feature, just for fun! Inexpensive, quick and easy.... Yep! That's all I want to do!
damage to the lawn


I began doing the prep work in early February. The billdozer seriously gouged the lawn area all along the right edge, making a simple rake and re-seed impossible, so I removed the damaged sod and extended the area that was to be barked. There were literally tons of rocks to remove, and the roots from dozens of salmon berries and black berries to dig out. Suddenly, my simple project was turning into actual work!
rocks and roots


The soil that was directly under the bus was in terrible shape due to the lack of light and water for so many years, so I dragged out my trusty sifter to remove debris and amend the soil by adding some compost and sand. A few larger boulders took considerable digging and effort to remove, and left large craters in their absence. One of these craters eventually grew to four feet in diameter and three feet deep! Sigh.... What have I gotten myself into this time????
too much work!

March 11, 2006

To be continued.....

by loz on June 05, 2006 04:25 AM
Wow, that's a lot of hard work Bill--I can't WAIT to see the continuation of the bus stop!

I'm excited! [grin]
by afgreyparrot on June 05, 2006 04:47 AM
quote:
To be continued....
Oh, man..... [Eek!]
Talk about taunting and teasing us!

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by plants 'n pots on June 05, 2006 04:51 AM
quote:
One of these craters eventually grew to four feet in diameter and three feet deep!
Sounds like a pond in the making to me, Bill! [thumb]

That surely is a lot of hard work!
Can't wait to see the glorious results! [clappy]

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 - Lynne's knitting journal  -  -  -
"I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
by Wild Willy on June 05, 2006 05:54 AM


When I first showed you the bus and subsequent photos of the naked ground, several members suggested that a small pond or waterfall would look nice in the space. However, I already have several ponds down yonder and three "waterfall" type water features around the gardens, so I decided that I needed something a little different at the bus stop. I did a lot of searching and shopping to find a thingy that seemed right....

I found a Roman style urn that I liked for the fountain but I wasn't sure of what would look right for the reservoir until I discovered some Roman stack stone at my favorite rock store. I used the stack stone to create a six foot circle which I lined with heavy rubber pond liner. The urn was set on blocks to lift it above the rim of the circle. The water circulates via a 400gph submersible pump.

how to fill a crater


Unfortunately, electric pumps require electricity to run, and I was already very tired of digging so for the first time ever I decided to allow someone to help me with some of the work involved in creating one of my gardens. I sent a message to a Gnome who lives in the Cedar grove just south of Cedar Hill, and Digger Don agreed to help me out...
Digger Don the neighbor Gnome


It didn't take long for Digger Don to dig the fifty feet of trench from the power supply to the pump, so I had him continue beyond that point to where I had decided to add a street lamp to the garden. Somehow, my simple plan seems to be turning into much more of a project than I ever anticipated...
damage to the lawn


At this point, my addiction to buying plants was beginning to haunt me, and I began to add a couple shrubs and flowers to the Bus Stop. (55 tall Bearded Iris, a couple Rhododendrons, a Goldenchain tree, a dwarf Forsythia....) I also came across a gazing ball and antique concrete planter that begged to be part of this garden.
some hardscaping and plants added


I began using the hundreds of excavated rocks as a wall so that I could create different levels of raised beds throughout the garden, and in a moment of weakness I hit the nurseries again.... (a couple more Rhododendrons, 10 assorted Heucheras, a spiral Arborvitae, some Junipers, a Golden Fir...)
too much!

March 24, 2006

So much for my plans of keeping this project SIMPLE!!

To be continued.....

by afgreyparrot on June 05, 2006 05:59 AM
quote:
To be continued.....
[grin]

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by loz on June 05, 2006 06:05 AM
OMG, I'm LOVING it! [thumb]
by Jiffymouse on June 05, 2006 06:07 AM
WOW can i come play?
by Xetox on June 06, 2006 08:25 AM
Awesome...can we get some close ups of that fountain in action?

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I hate those dang rabbits [Smile]
by Bill on June 06, 2006 09:46 AM
Before I'm done, you will be able to see closeups of most of the plants and hardscape features! [thumb]
by Xetox on June 07, 2006 01:56 AM
Patience has never been one of my strong points [Wink]

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I hate those dang rabbits [Smile]
by gardenmom32210 on June 07, 2006 02:18 AM
This project is coming along GREAT,Bill [thumb]

I cannot wait to see more pics!
by afgreyparrot on June 07, 2006 03:21 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Xetox:
Patience has never been one of my strong points [Wink]
Me, either..... [Roll Eyes]

"Are we there yet?" [Big Grin]

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by weezie13 on June 07, 2006 05:47 AM
Patients Grasshopper...Patients...
When it is time to snatch the pepple from
Bill's hand, it will be time for you to see...

Loooooks great Bill..
Very nice indddeeeeeeed!!! [Smile] [thumb] [flower] [clappy]

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Triss on June 11, 2006 12:05 PM
Love seeing it all come together. Cannot wait for more!

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We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart.
by Chrissy on June 12, 2006 09:46 AM
Looks great Bill, I can't wait to see more. Ya have me on the edge of my seat!

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z5b
by penny in ontario on June 14, 2006 02:45 AM
Looking good Bill, cant wait to see more [thumb]

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by afgreyparrot on June 14, 2006 03:56 AM
.....yeah, waiting patiently here...... [lala]

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by weezie13 on June 14, 2006 05:21 AM
[grin] Meeeeeeeeeee toooooooooooo [lala]

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by afgreyparrot on June 14, 2006 06:20 AM
quote:
Originally posted by weezie13:
Patients Grasshopper...Patients...
When it is time to snatch the pepple from
Bill's hand, it will be time for you to see...

I am declaring it time to snatch the pebble! [Big Grin]

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by weezie13 on June 14, 2006 07:27 AM
[Wink] [Wink] [Big Grin] [Big Grin] [grin] [tongue] [kissies] [muggs]

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by loz on June 14, 2006 07:36 AM
The suspense is killing me!
by penny in ontario on June 16, 2006 04:44 AM
Checking in for an update but there isnt one yet [tears] , cant wait to see more Bill [thumb]

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by weezie13 on June 16, 2006 05:30 AM
quote:
cant wait to see more Bill
[shocked] [shocked] [shocked] JUST HOW MUCH MORE OF BILL DO YOU WANT TO SEE?????? [shocked] [Embarrassed] [lala]
This is a family gardening site you know!! [Wink] [tongue]

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by loz on June 16, 2006 05:35 AM
[shocked] [Big Grin] [shocked]
by afgreyparrot on June 16, 2006 06:25 AM
[Big Grin] [Big Grin] [Big Grin]

Come on, Bill...let's see more! [grin] [Embarrassed] [thumb]

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by loz on June 16, 2006 07:16 AM
Show it all, show it all! [Wink] [Big Grin]
by penny in ontario on June 16, 2006 08:14 AM
quote by weezie"
JUST HOW MUCH MORE OF BILL DO YOU WANT TO SEE??????
This is a family gardening site you know!!

WEEZIE [shocked] [shocked] [shocked]
GET YOUR MIND OUTA THE GUTTER GIRL [kissies] [Big Grin]

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by Bill on June 16, 2006 04:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by afgreyparrot:
[Big Grin] [Big Grin] [Big Grin]

Come on, Bill...let's see more! [grin] [Embarrassed] [thumb]

[Embarrassed] I honestly don't think you handle seeing any more than you already have!!! [Embarrassed]
Be good Cindy!
by penny in ontario on June 17, 2006 03:51 AM
Where did this go wrong [shocked] [Big Grin] [Big Grin] [Big Grin]

Soooo Bill....we wanna see more [lala] [Big Grin]

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by afgreyparrot on June 17, 2006 04:00 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Bill:
Be good Cindy!
Why does he just tell ME to be good? [nutz] [Big Grin] [lala]

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by penny in ontario on June 17, 2006 04:24 AM
[Big Grin] [Big Grin] [Big Grin] [lala]

Cindy's Signature line.
Blame it all on Cindy!

Doesnt that say it all
[Big Grin] [lala]

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by datazmom on March 08, 2007 04:45 PM
That was quite a job . From the pics you post later it turned out quite nicely . You did a great job and the imagination is wonderful . Keep up the good work .

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Successful gardening begins with trial and error and ends with dirty knees .
Happy Gardening !!!!!

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