Blogger Ouray, CO on Jun 11, 2012

Transforming A Wilderness Into A Garden

We live in Ouray Colorado amidst a very shady, wooded area in a canyon. It was not an easy feat. It took me 5 years to establish.

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This was before we put a new septic system in 5 years ago.
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The entire view from the house was only long, sloping hillside, overgrown with weeds and burr dogs.
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The new septic system required a 48 feet long, 12 feet deep and 8 feet wide leach field to be according to code.
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So the entire land scape was torn up and the place looked like a new construction site.
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Dirt and rocks had to be moved.
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Not a green spot anywhere except the trees.
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My first project was putting in a pond. I dug this with a shovel by hand and today it holds 1200 gallons of water and features a waterfall.
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This is view from our deck and sun room to the pond now. Moving all that rock was not easy and even harder was to establish a good eco system for plants and...
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Along side the deck and sun room. I learned what to plant and what not to plant. Deer are the main culprit since we have 8 acres of land and no fence and d...
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Some old tent sticks served to create this arbor. Not too swift but it's wonderful to see roses and hardy honeysuckle climbing up. I also put some stair steps in the s...
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Fall in our garden and the scare crow is still standing after 3 winters.
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Some old loud speakers make wonderful side tables on deck.
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Iris needs a lot of water and I am starting to water early in the year when the snow is still on the ground in March. The reward every spring is simply a sight to s...
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And here is my friend Adonis. One day, he almost followed me into the kitchen.
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Instead of one huge hillside, I have now 3 levels. One running alongside the deck and sun room with the Iris and a little pathway installed. One beneath th...
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24 Comments

Sheryll S Jacksonville, FL

Wow, that was a lot of work. How did you move all those stones for the ater garden? Did you dig them out of your land? They are very expensive here in Jax and then you have to have them delivered and places. I just can't do it... too much for me. Beautiful yard now.

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

We have more rocks around here that anyone can wish for, including those that are selling for a very high price covered with moss. I had the construction guy move the heavy rocks with his back how. The rest took crow bars, dollies and muscle grease. Back then, my husband was still able to help me, now he can't do much of any work anymore. He is 73 years old, had a major bypass surgery and in the last couple of month 3 minor strokes. It's all up to me now.

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Oh Carla - I would absolutely loooove to live where you do!! You have really done a lifetime worth of work, in a very short amount of time. You spread is really awesome!! Thank you for letting us visit - I'll be back!!!

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Thanks Susan. Actually you could live here, if you like to pick up your mail at the little Ouray post office because they don't deliver here and drive 38 miles one way into Montrose to do you major shopping because the stores in town are highly expensive and most everything is designed for tourists. We are about 38 miles from famous Telluride. If you love skiing you are in the right place here. We have 8 acres, our house has 1900 square foot living space and the garage is 1500 square feel. ...»
Actually this house is on the market. We like to live closer to my children in Colorado Springs since my husband is no longer able to maintain the plow equipment to keep our private driveway snow free in winter. Too expensive to have it plowed. We live on a retirement budget.

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 1
Amy U Puyallup, WA

Very impressive! Congrats on your beautiful garden!

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Thanks Any

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 0
Anita Roll Murals Alpharetta, GA

Wow Carla that is quite an achievement! Thank you for sharing pictures of your home and grounds! Beautiful place to live.

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Thanks Anita, it really takes a lot of work to maintain this too. Climbing hilly places to weed isn't much fun but healthy I guess.

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

@Carla - well, with some serious planning such as enough supplies & firewood and a whole bunch of books, it wouldn't hurt my feelings in the least to get snowed in for the winter. I'm sure there's enough wildlife to be entertaining and I'm quite alright with just me, myself and I!! LOL But I can appreciate all the plowing and just routine maintenance & upkeep and oh yeah, the grandkids. Definitely a priority there. I'll bet they love coming to your place don't they?? Retirement ...»
budget - uh huh, I get that too and my spring has sprung so I don't have the get up & go I used to either. ;~)

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Lol, we have natural gas for heat. Phil stopped a long time ago to use the fire place because he was getting tired of cutting wood and hauling it up to the living room area. But we both read a lot and rent movies we like to watch.. His problem with watching TV is that he almost lost all of his hearing and wears a cochlear implant. Now people sound to him like chipmunks and he cannot listen to music any longer nor answer the phone since he doesn't understand what is said.

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 1
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

What a wonderful landscape you have created, Carla. Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

Your place is absolutely lovely! I am sure there is someone out there who is looking for a place just like this, so good luck on selling. Since we are reaching your age, we are finding that the hard work projects are quickly becoming our "past experiences". Being remote can be wonderful, but it can also become a problem later in life. Good luck to you!

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Thanks Jeanette, I am still capable but each year it seems to get a little harder and takes more Ump to get going.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

I am honored to have such compliment coming from such expert as you are. Thanks. It is not easy around here to get anything growing. We are sort of between Zone 3 and 4. We are 875 feet up from sea level. The last snow we had this last year was May 16th. It's more like 7 month of winter then jumping into summer with hardly spring time. It all depends. It can be very dry here or else we have too much rain. Almost lost my hydragenas last year because of the late, cold weather. Nature is harsh around here.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
Linda G Conestoga, PA

It sure looks like plenty of work..but it will be well worth it when completed!!

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

It was plenty of work. Imagine this to be larger than a football field and mostly on slopes and steep hills. Even when it's done, the maintenance is just as hard to accomplish.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
Exa H Killeen, TX

Just beautiful!! Thanks for sharing with us. My hat goes off to you for all your hard work in creating this lovely piece of land.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
Deb W Lebanon, OR

you have done wonderful things,,this is beautiful,,your hard work really shows.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
CONNIE W Somerset, PA

Very nice - You can see you out a lot of effort into it. I love the deer.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Yeah and I might get into trouble with the wildlife division for doing such a thing. I know the buck didn't mind. Wouldn't try to do that with the bears around here.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

As a fellow mountain dweller...I can appreciate how much work went into a project like that.

on Jun 14, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

Looking through your pages and photos, I am impressed. The love of creating beautiful things shows through everything you did, fellow mountain dweller! Thanks for the compliment on my yard work. Mainly doing everything by hand. The "lawn" needs to be maintained with a weed eater. The steep hillside too. It's not easy to keep this place looking good. I spend a lot of time outside just to do that.

on Jun 14, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Thanks Carla...I'm working on a retaining wall right now. The Mrs got a new car that is a bit longer than her old one, so I am enlarging the parking area up near the house...I'll post some pics when some more progress gets made.

on Jun 15, 2012 · Like 0
Carla K Ouray, CO

I sure like to see the photos.

on Jun 15, 2012 · Like 0