Good Boy, Blake.

Our pond removal project in the back patio doubled in size in December when we took out the little lawn which was too small to mow and didn't add much visual interest. Pedro, who helps us in the garden, and his guys carried a truckload of dirt up the stairs from our driveway and dumped it where the lawn used to be and OilMan and Dana sculpted it into mounds that continue the theme begun back in July. Dana had just enough time to put in her "rock ribbon" before she had to go back to work. The wheelbarrow containing the rest of the rocks still graces the pathway. 

Hoping that there might be a few winter plants in our favorite nursery  (not the kind in which children are raised in Britain, but the kind where plants are sold in the U.S.) we all went this morning to the Cottage Gardens in Petaluma in search of some ground covers to hold the dirt in place until the spring. This is a place that would still be appealing even if it didn't have a single plant for sale. All it needs is coffee and scones. (There is a good place for that in town, but we usually have dogs, plants or in OilMan's case, a desire to get back home to watch the football playoffs.)

Dana brought Blake for the second installment of his introduction to life "outside". I handed her the camera and she took this shot which I liked for the glimpse of the beautifully manicured grounds and interesting surroundings. Bet you can't yes what's in the pocket in which I have my hand….

OilMan has been busily installing irrigation in the mounds this afternoon. Dana may come over tomorrow to help plant the new plants, but not wanting to give him any ideas, she won't bring Blake.