Just the back yard!? Nah, I want the front and side yards landscaped in natives too.



Showing posts with label mini-boulders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mini-boulders. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Brains and Brawn



A little brawn and a little brains goes a long way.  Luckily, I have just a bit of each.  :)

Back in January, while creating a terraced path, I started to uncover a huge rock.  It is a welcome addition to my pond/waterfall project.   However, it was in the ground pretty deep.   I dug it out little by little when the ground thawed in January and again in February.   Still I left it in the ground.  I guess I imagined reinjuring my back and not being able to complete the path or any other projects.

Today, although I didn't plan too,I got it out of the ground!  😁

Aside from using an iron bar and the power of a fulcrum, I used my body weight to lift it out of the ground...and filled the hole in one side to have a flat surface to flip it into, then I filled the other side, flipped it end over end and out if the way...until I am ready to move it to the pond. 









Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Working and Reworking

Although, I've posted very little in regards to the pond and streambed project that I've been working on, I have made a good bit of progress.  Normally, I guess I'm too tired to post...but, today of all days, when I should not feel up to posting, I am.  After walking for an hour and a half this morning, I went out after lunch and spent almost seven hours unearthing mini-boulders an flipping, nudging, and dragging them into place--well, only one is actually in its permanent position (I think).  I've actually moved it several times already trying to get things right.

Last week, I'd spent a good bit of time creating a pleasant-looking arrangements of rocks for a spillway/waterfall.  Unfortunately, when I ran the hose to overflow the upper section, the water didn't fall as planned.  That will all need reworked too, but since today I was not in the frame of mind to work on the mechanics of it all, I gathered rocks and worked on creating an outcropping that will never have a stream cascading over it...so creativity and not mechanics was my focus today--just what I needed.

 This rock is much larger than it appears in the photos...and like an iceberg, most of it was under the surface. :)

 At least these are much closer to the pond than most rocks I've moved in the past three years.
 I placed a large log in the hole that was left.  After covering it with soil it should be a long while before it decays and the ground sinks.  I'll deal with that when it happens.
 I still feel as though I'm running out of rocks for this project...I keep finding ones I've stashed away, and there is still a pile I've yet to pull from...but, I'm still seeking out LARGE ones which I need to make it look natural.  I pulled this one out of the hillside...and I think I know exactly where it will go!
 Here it is at the bottom of a path I created earlier this year (and never documented in the blog).
After flipping it end over end up the path, I was able to employ my handy, home-made rock mover again and wheel it to join the others...and one step closer to its final placement.

  Getting closer.  I swear, before I began digging and moving all of these rocks into place for the past several weeks, I'd not have been able to move this one.  Maybe, in another couple of weeks, I'll be able to move that one I swore I'd never tackle again.
It really should've been a two man job, but, as I so often do, I push myself...and I made it...it is actually in place now (but not in the picture), but needs readjusting tomorrow...or when ever I find I have the energy and motivation again.

 This is my old pond from when we lived in an apartment.
 I was able to move the moss-and-plants-topped rocks into the new pond...

Not bad, if I do say so myself. :)  Just one thing to add...there was a frog using the "old pond", and, after taking out the plants and rocks, I kind of relocated him to what I think are much nicer digs.  That means I'm up to five frogs now.