The earth-mover showed up yesterday and started making hills and valleys in our yards. Hills as berms to direct water from the driveway into our yard, and valleys as swales to hold onto water and to plant in. This is a BEFORE shot of the concrete pathway to our front door (Actually, this photo looks like it's from around the time we moved back in - look at those porch columns, that front bed, and the lack of gravel path or Blue Palo Verde tree).
This weekend the folks at Watershed Management Group are coming to finish the job that the Earthmover started, using shovels and picks on our stubborn, clay and caliche soil. Since it's January, the air is crisp and cool - perfect weather.
Here are the AFTER shots, with the former sidewalk ready to plant out:
The next steps will be for me to start planting out the swales. I'd like to put in some perennials that can hold up to the drought and heat: Aloe, Gopher Plant, Salvia. Also scatter some wildflower seeds to fill in the big gaps. Last year's wildflowers are still blooming and show no signs of letting up. Since the focus will be on bird and pollinator habitat, we're also putting in a Hackberry that will put out bright orange fruit for the Quail.
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