The Hill Garden

It's low maintenance, which it needs to be since the steep hill combined with the loose gravel and rocks makes it challenging for the unsteady or balance challenged. Even digging a hole is difficult since our 'soil' is half rock. If we want to plant something new we usually get Pedro or one of his crew to do. it. There are a couple of spots of color up on the top terrace where we have planted a Sango Kaku Japanese maple a d a row of crape myrtles which can just be glimpsed behind all the foliage at the. top of the hill. The crape myrtles are a particularly vivid color and the maple will eventually lose its orange foliage revealing bright red bark.

Aside from going to take a Pilates class, I have spent the day battening down the hatches for a visit from our niece, Lindsay and her two girls. Sage has started walking since they were last here and our house isn't exactly child proof anymore. Having a blind dog has helped keep the floor pretty clear.

They have just arrived so I'm off to have a conversation with them. I can't imagine life on a houseboat with a toddler....