“Carry On Camping”

ESPatch Jul 27, 2015 6 comments

A quick camping excursion to the Gulf – just me (my wife knows better), the kids, nature, and oh yes, a future sand storm.

We exited society and the tarmac at North Padre Island, crunched the truck’s gearbox stubbornly into 4-wheel-drive and we were off, hurtling down the deserted coastline to look for a suitable camping spot.

Beach Camping

Attracted to the large log, we settled on this spot in the dunes – the beach was deserted as far as we could see in both directions…hmm, that should have been a clue.

They immediately got busy in the sand while I set up camp and erected the tent and an improvised tarp attached to the bed of the truck to store coolers (and other random camping stuff that was later to be buried in sand).

I settled uncomfortably into my newly purchased (and extremely cheap) Academy chair (pictured above) and poured a piña colada buzz ball over ice to get into the holiday mood.

hqdefault (Thanks L)

I was hoping for a more reclined and relaxing beach posture to enjoy my liquid libation but unfortunately I was ergonomically challenged by a Chinese manufacturer into a bolt upright position – knees pushed so high against my chest cavity that it hindered breathing.

You get what you pay for.

The chairs were a perfect size for them as it turned out.

The fire-pit was lit, we had chicken wings and marshmallows on the BBQ, the stars came out over the oil rigs,

I had another piña colada buzz ball…it was just about perfect…a quick torch-lit crab hunt then it was time for ‘bed’.

After a rather rough night comprised of:

a) Incessant wiggling, and an excess of irritating / abrasive sand in the tent,

b) An infestation of sand flies that chewed on us all…all night,

and

c) The gross misconception that sand is a soft medium to pitch a tent on (and sleep soundly on over the age of 10)…

…dawn could not come soon enough for me.

Luckily the coastguard gave us all an early start which initiated some post-breakfast beach-combing.

We found a plethora of beautiful / deadly and disgusting Gulf-Coast wash-ups on the morning tide.

Plenty of these,

Portuguese Man of War:

(Physalia physalis)

A little disconcerting considering they were dotted at regular intervals down the beach.

We found…

one of these,

a baby hammerhead who had met an unfortunate end,

and, lots and lots of these coquina clams…her favorite (over and above the other random dead and decapitated things).

This was the last image I took before the above-mentioned sand storm blew in and destroyed the camp, (you can see the storm clouds building in the distance), unfortunately I have no pictures of it as I was fully consumed:

a) Trying to control a rather large tarp that insisted on throwing even more sand in my face while slapping at me wildly. The tent was buckled over to the ex’tent’ ahem that through the haze of sand I could make out the silhouettes of two small people huddled together, the canvas contouring to their bodies, one was crying…having fun at the beach yet kids?

b) After giving up on the tarp and ultimately cutting it loose (the long metal sand spikes attempting to hold it down had become a legitimate concern / potential Darwin award at this point) and upon entering the now buckled-over tent for my own protection, I realized the temporary domicile was filling up with sand faster than one could say ‘what the King Tut is going on?’

It was time to evacuate before we were buried alive, buried alive I say.

We threw everything that was not yet buried into the back of the truck, jumped in and slammed the doors.

It was so quiet.

This is how I looked (after I had already brushed myself down) as I checked into a local Best Western Hotel.

Never has a shower felt so good…and never have I witnessed my kids wanting a shower so much that I had to take third place in line to get one.

That was a first.

The following morning we woke up to a great view and felt refreshed after finally getting some quality sleep.

After our experience we were only too happy to be tourists for a while.

They had a fine time exploring “The Blue Ghost” aircraft carrier (USS Lexington),

which housed a display case containing an impressive amount of knots, yes knots. If you like knots, this display case is for you.

We returned home only to find Kumo in a spot of bother with a garden spider.

It was a beauty, with a web spanning 7ft.

No shortage of foliage this year for web spinning.

Another less dramatic excursion took us recently to the Hill Country Water Gardens:

http://www.hillcountrywatergardens.com/

Even in 100 degree weather, this place with its shade trees and an abundance of water features makes it feel like 98.

The ponds are stunning and so well maintained, well worth a visit.

Looking at them reminded me that I had a decade worth of organic sludge burping and fizzing at the bottom of my pond,

humph.

These fish heads were still attached to their colorful bodies.

This was the star attraction for them and one I fear I will be roped into constructing in the not too distant future.

A living fairy garden.

Returning home, I just had to make a start:

Stay Tuned For:

“National Leveridge’s European Vacation”

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intergalactic reproduction strictly prohibited, and
punishable by late (and extremely unpleasant)
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“Bridge Over the River Why?”

ESPatch May 2, 2015 7 comments

I love the city brush pick-up…it is like I am getting away with something.

I think this is because I am used to paying for dumpsters when I am doing installations.

This is what large brush pick-up looks like in the Patch after I have attacked my loquat trees, vitex (yes I still have it) and bamboos. If I have to stoop to walk under it, it ends up here.

I do have lots of perimeter screening foliage that contributes to the street pile,

and there are always the high-maintenance pecan trees.

My two favorite hand-tools for taking care of such brush business:

It took half an hour to remove my brush pile.

Moving Along…

Just when I thought he couldn’t look any more ridiculous,

he goes and grows these!

I came so close to snapping them off and adding them to the brush pile but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

…“stupid cactus man with his stupid large and small ears”.

Looming high above the cactus man is this burgundy sand cherry which really pops with color set against a dark back drop like the shade of my post oak.

Spring color that looks like fall.

This wall of jasmine is made up of two types,

The white is Confederate and the yellow is Star of Toscana.

Both are great for screening and for spring fragrance.

Remember the curvy flower stalk on this ‘Macho Mocha’ mangave?

Here it is now, standing proud at about the 6ft 4″ mark.

The rust colored flowers

not only look good,

they also rotate to the touch in all directions…amazing.

Bridge over the river why?

Well, to add structure of course.

This large back garden in south central Austin did not always look this big and airy.

A number of Large ligustrums were imposing and possessing the space making it feel dark and claustrophobic.

Ba-ba DOOK!…Brrr.

They were the first to be exorcised by the teeth of a chain saw.

Here is the design visualization I generated for the client:

Before:

After:

Eliminating the understory ligustrums immediately opened up the space visually.

A weaving dry-creek bed slows water-flow and breaks up two flagstone patios on either side of the bridge.

Cast iron plants, sabal minor, fatsia Japonica and bamboo muhly will soften up the shady scene as an understory planting.

Loquats and clumping bamboos will add perimeter height and interest when mature.

After finishing the rear of the property, naturally we consolidated the front.