Large Format Reproductions
Posted on July 14, 2008
Filed Under Anxiety, Blogroll, career, suburban joys | 18 Comments
I have, in hand, large format reproductions of the property next door. Our neighbors have bulldozed and back-hoed their way to a blank slate, all smooth soil and anticipation. I have promised to help them, to select hedge material and shrubs that will thrive in deep shade, alongside a sunny pool deck and in front of unsightly pool equipment. They insist on ornamental grasses and red maples and flamingo willow and since I have no idea what grasses or willows or maples work here, I will pretend and follow their lead and learn the latin names of these plants they favor so I can, at least, sound knowledgeable. I will cross my fingers and hope these Acer palmatums and Miscanthus sinensis survive and prosper. I am their neighbor. If things don’t work out, they know where to find me.
This is my first landscape design project since leaving Florida. I have enjoyed an almost three year sabbatical and now it is time to put on the big girl panties and get back to work despite the fact that there are chinks in the armor, holes in the lingerie. Because I have studied and practiced in a subtropical climate, I am, decidedly, no expert on Zone 6. I am faking my way through this first endeavor and so far it proves to be no different than the barely managed chaos of the projects I’ve been used to.
Today the excavation crew hit the water main and took out service to my house and the neighbor’s to the South of us. After service was restored we had chunks of copper and mud clogging our hot water tank and our toilets and the water ran brown from the taps and into the washer. We spent the entire day clearing lines and blowing out faucets after which we have clean running water again and I have that “Oh yeah, that’s why I quit landscape design and installation back in 2005″ feeling. Same shit. Different state. ‘Tis the nature of the beast and all those other platitudes I could throw at the thing. I have, in hand, large format reproductions of the property next door and I am tired already.
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