Succulent rock garden

Our biggest gardening project this year was creating a succulent and rock garden on the east side of 

Before: from the north

Before: from the south

the house. Of course it was Heidi and Becki's project - they were here for our cousin Jenny's son's wedding and couldn't imagine not slaving away in the July sun while they were here. First we got a scoop of topsoil (each of these "loads" was a bulldozer 

Topsoil to create contours

scoop), and used it to develop some contour east of the walk leading to the front door. We positioned the big rocks from valley of the falls next. Then we planted cacti and succulents, and distributed a load of Yosemite rocks, 4-6". A load of 1-3" 

Placing cactus

Big rocks placed

river rocks came next, then we formed the creek and filled all gaps with 12 bags of gravel/small pebbles, the only Home Depot component of the project. Somewhere along the line we decided to ditch the wood chip

Yosemite rocks filled the gaps

mulch on the other side of the walk and make that part of the rock garden too. It was an intense 2 days but we are thrilled with the outcome and love that these plants like to grow here - we're not trying to make this chaparral into a verdant lawn!

conferring (not arguing :)

Are we done? No! Let's do the other side! it's only 95 degrees!

Some of the cuttings we just stuck into the ground to see what would root. Others I had followed more of a protocol. If succulents are allowed to season for a couple weeks in a sheltered spot, they will begin to root. I just laid them on a wall in the shade. Some just 
 

Planting the palm

East side with pebbles in place

 

Cleaning up

formed a callous, others formed root hairs, with others a mini succulent appeared with some roots. Those are the most fun! I also received many succulent cuttings as a gift from my Mom's cousin Herb in January. After they had cured a week or so, I put them in the ground, and had dozens of plants ready to go.

Finished product

Detail of plants

We think this one looks like coral!

Many thanks to Becki for her photo documentation of this adventure! 

As a little postscript, we already experienced an exciting event in this garden. This humble, rather dead-looking cactus..... 

 bloomed!

Where did that come from?!?

This was really quite a special occasion.

But it was over in a few hours. I took this photo when I got home in the evening.

Many thanks to the designers, workers, documenters, supervisors, and admirers.

Of course, we all know who did most of the work. Thank you Wolfi!