{"id":34115,"date":"2021-08-07T00:01:10","date_gmt":"2021-08-07T07:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/barbarafalconernewhall.com\/?p=34115"},"modified":"2026-06-06T12:34:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T12:34:30","slug":"garden-remodel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/garden-remodel\/","title":{"rendered":"Yay! Our Garden Remodel Is Done. Come Take a Walk"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"garden<\/a>
A staircase using our old, historic Atlas brick pavers<\/a> graces our garden remodel. Brick dust is still all over the place in this photo. Photo by Barbara Newhall<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
A Garden Remodel Ready for Planting<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Come take a walk. Our garden remodel is done at last.<\/p>\n

Well, almost done. The stairways still need railings. And that bare dirt needs plants, lots of them.<\/p>\n

(I’m thinking drought tolerant ceanothus, manzanita and salvia for the back yard. And in the side garden — between two deer fences — roses, creeping fig, dahlias and kitchen herbs.)<\/p>\n

But the hard work is finally done. The hardscaping is firmly in place.<\/p>\n

A brick staircase winds its way down into our back yard. And thoroughly up-to-code concrete stairs give safe access to the side yard.<\/p>\n

A lovely redwood deck right outside my office door invites lounging in the sun — and maybe working.<\/p>\n

All our back and side yard need now is plants — and visitors.<\/p>\n

Whose Garden Is This?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

OK, I know. It’s not our<\/em> garden. It’s not our<\/em> backyard.<\/p>\n

There’s no us or we anymore. Jon’s gone.<\/a> It’s just me.<\/p>\n

My, me, mine — those words feel so grabby. So possessive. So isolating.\u00a0I’m more comfortable with we. I put a lot of work into this garden remodel. Lots of time and thought and heart.<\/p>\n

I didn’t do it for myself. I did it for — an us.<\/p>\n

Jon’s not here to be the us with me any more. So I’m counting on friends, acquaintances and readers to fill in some of that empty spot.<\/p>\n

So come take a walk!<\/p>\n