Flowers

When we moved in, the backyard was just rocks, one of the things we don't like too much about living someplace so hot.  We discussed ideas for the backyard and I basically told Tim he could do whatever he wanted.  He has some great ideas and over the past 3 years has been implementing them.

GETTING READY:
First, he got rid of a bunch of the rock that is our landscaping in the backyard.  Next, he bought stones to use as borders for what he wants to be a plants area, garden areas and a sandbox spot for the boys.  After that came, what I think is the hardest part: separating the rocks from the dirt.  The dirt in AZ is very rocky and hard.  Tim spent numerous weekends sifting out the dirt from the rocks! He had a wheelbarrow, pick ax, shovel and a homemade sifter.  The result was amazing!  The next step was to fill the sifted out areas with top soil (which the boys LOVED playing in despite the manure in it).  After that, to "keep" the boys out (and their friends), Tim made a small fence to put up.  Finally, it was time to plant.

ORANGE TREE AND MOTHER'S DAY FLOWERS:
The first plant we got was a miniature Orange tree.  We had it for a few months before we actually planted it.  We kept moving it inside because of the cold weather.  Tim finally decided it just needed to be planted and did the deed.  Excited and encouraged by the tree (and the fact it survived the freeze), for Mother's Day I received 2 potted flowers to put in the "plants" area of the backyard.  Tim planted those too, with "help" from Pach and Pick.

WATER SYSTEM:
Tim spent hours planning a watering system for the backyard, designing, drawing, etc. but it never came to fruition.  Something always came up and the money went to that instead of the backyard.  However, he was able to find a starter kit online for cheap and that was all we needed to finally do something more with our plants area and make it look better.

FLOWERS, FLOWERS AND MORE FLOWERS. OH AND LETTUCE TOO:
Friday we went out as a family to run errands.  We ended up buying 5 more potted flowers to plant in the backyard.  Tim got the rest of the supplies for the drip system (water) for the little areas.  Saturday, Tim and Pach got Tulip and Daisy bulbs to plant, as well as some other flower seeds and lettuce seeds.  He and the boys (minus Bacon), spent the day outside planting all the plants and seeds and putting the watering system in.  The result is amazing!!  The "big" area looks soooooo much nicer with more plants in them! 

DIGGING NOT ALLOWED:
The boys helped plant the stuff so they know there's stuff in the ground.  We've told them they are not allowed to dig in the plants and garden area anymore so hopefully they won't!  Only time will tell if they will remember or not.

Planting some bulbs.

Tim pointing to where to put the bulbs.

Tim still pointing to where to put the bulbs. 

Finally the bulbs are all in the right spot and ready to be covered.

Covering the bulbs with dirt.  It was so fun for the boys: playing in dirt all day long!

Pach planting his flower seeds. They are some type of white flower.

Here you can see all the flowers and the orange tree.