Mar 6-10, 2000
It rained this weekend, so the back is still a muddy pit. Good thing they’re starting the week by working in the front yard. The water was off for much of the day as new valves were added and the route of the main line to the house improved.
Bob-cat in front yard
retaing wall
Drain pipe detail
water line routing
Water valves
front of house
After a trench was dug behind the retaining wall below the level of the concrete black cloth was layed… then drain pipe… then gravel… then the black cloth is folded over the gravel to keep dirt out. The pipes sticking up will be connected to catch-basins (and also allow access for cleaning. The drain slopes toward the end of the retaining wall nearest the house where it will tie into a drain that gets the water off the property.
The main water valve to the house was a bitch to turn off, so a new valve, downstream from the meter was added. It’s the one with the blue handle. The valve with the yellow handle will be for irrigation.
retaining wall behind pool house
rock wall behind pool house
drainage by front door
along the entrance way
retaining wall by house
irrigation water supply
Both ends of the retaining wall have been knocked down. You can see the beginning of a rock wall next to the walkway behind the pool house. These are low points, so drainage is being added at the walkway level and at the garden terrrace level.
Drains have also been added along the entrance way. Under the gravel in the 4th picture is a junction between the new drain pipe and two runs of flexible drain pipe that lie under the existing deck.
A seat wall is going to connect to the retaining wall by the house. The beginninings of the irrigation feed system are shown in the last picture. Irrigation stub pipes and sections of control wire have been buried where needed.
the front yard
more front yard
along the side of the driveway
Can you guess it rained last night and this morning? Can you say mud.
back yard from guest room
dining room view
back yard from patio
stuck cat
back yard at end of day
back yard again
The back and side yard was got the bobcat treatment Friday. They needed to remove lots of dirt so they can get the grade right. The 2nd picture above shows the pile of muddy dirt and sod being stacked up outside the dining room around lunch time. The last two pictures show things at the end of the day.
driveway drainage
sprinklers
more sprinklers
rock wall behind pool house
The trench along side the driveway is open to lay some more drain pipe. I believe the next step is to break up the front of the driveway. That will let them tie into an existing drain, replacing the part that is at the wrong level.
They’ve started on the sprinkler system in the front yard and along the retaining wall. Behind the pool house (last picture) you can see the terracing and rock walls, with very nice fresh top-soil replacing the clay/mud they removed. This will be part of Mitsuko’s vegetable and herb garden.