I love this! You need a rake that is dedicated, no, consecrated to make this Japanese-style garden-esque.

Could be a nice ceremony with you and Rene (and GOD I feel stalker-esque knowing so much about you all!) Carve the rake handle, or paint it. What do your neighbors think? If they didn’t like it, I’d write, “F–k you” with the gravel. Or make the gravel into a cairn, with a celtic cross.

Our neighbors in Florida watched our lawn die and while they didn’t turn us in, when I DID do some long overdue lawn work, the husband came and videotaped me–as an insult, like it was some rare event.

Here in Missouri, we’ve had the authorities here twice. Once, we had our floors refinished and my husband put our stuff out on the carport–for weeks. Then, we had brush beside the house that my husband said he was saving for synagogue–some inexplicable ritual called the Lag Ba’Omer bonfire. He’s a good soul, though. I only wish he’d be home to catch the wrath of the inspectors sometime.

You did a great job … I read through your landscaping saga, kind of appalled by your neighbours. Why would you want a verdant green lawn in Arizona when you can landscape with incredible native plants? We have much the same thing here in the summer – often long periods without rain and hot, hot temperatures. Most people’s lawns go brown and no one thinks much of it. But then, our summers last for a few months and the rest of the time, lawns are covered in snow. I opted out of the lawn routine when I moved here and had a nasty-looking lawn. It is now all pea gravel with lots of hardy roses and ninebark shrubs.(maroon leaves)

I think you should add a few more gnomes and put them nearer your bizarre neighbour’s place.

Rene was amazing to have stayed out of the discussion … I would have just had to insert my two-cents worth.

What a brilliant plan! Your yard is lovely (more photos, please!), and it is one fantastic example of a way to avoid the waste of water. I applaud your creativity in sticking to your neighbors and to “the man.”

The grass-prioritizing, hypocritical (interesting how cities set water use limits, yet expect precious lawns), water-abusing man, that is.

Please don’t think I’m criticizing but just to input that if rainharvesting principles had been applied it might be a bit better. Using little hills and depressions in key spots could have created a friendlier area for plants and a better use of what water comes your way. Brad Lancasters book “Harvesting Rainwater” is good and I believe he has a web page as well. He lives in Tucson and is practicing what he preaches.

Thanks for the suggestions, the questions, and for following the story of our lawn. Our neighbors conspicuously did not mention this. I congratulated them on their garage expansion, but they could not find a way to comment on such a sea change with our lawn. I think it’s a real sore point with them. Too bad. We’re absolutely pleased with our new xeriscaping. We’ve even added a few more gnomes (we’re up to five).

I am sooo glad Rene stayed out of the discussion 🙂

p.s. I liked the old yard better….
jwl

I’m thinking of having similar landscaping done down here in Tucson. How much did your project cost when all was said and done?