Stepping Up

After waiting twenty+ years, the back step entryway into the garden is finally getting a make over.

For years, the step consisted of a cement block of stairs that was poured in 1948. 

In 2014 I attempted a "poor man's" face lift. The price of a complete redo was not in the budget at that time, so I did the best I could with the limited budget allotted by my wife for garden spending.

 

Eventually we saved enough to take on a full rebuild of the steps with a small deck, stairs, and snow-load holding solid roof. Unfortunately, finding a contractor who would build it proved to be a daunting task. After two years of searching we finally secured a contractor and work began in mid-April. 

Progress has been fast and the project is getting close to completion. Once the rain stops, I will be able to start painting. However, in the meantime, some serious landscape changes need to be considered.

After removing two large Spirea from either side of the steps, only the left side shrub will return due to the new angled stairs on the right.

There is also going to be a narrow area on the left side (where the ladder sits in the photo above). Once the Spirea is replanted, I will re-work the area with the following: stones, a rain chain from the new gutter, a granite lined square drain area filled with black Mexican stones, a large symbolic stone, a variety of smaller plants, and if I can acquire them from California, some Japanese roof tiles for edging. 

It will be like a mini-zen garden within the Zen garden. This will take most of the summer, so keep an eye out for additional progress posts through out the season.