Backyard #Landscaping Makeover by Rolynn Anderson

You've seen pictures of the front yard makeover and I promised pics of the back yard as well.  Note: what you don't see in this video and picture is our side yard with fruit trees: Orange, grapefruit, lemon, apricot, apple and plum.  Yup, it's a lot of area to tend!  Now, I have a couple more large cement balls to make to complete the look in the new patio area, and I'm planting a small cactus garden in an area you can't see, but this portion is 95% finished.  Now it's time to sit back and enjoy our landscaping makeover!

Here are the drought tolerant plants I included... such plants are required by the cash for grass rebate program:

1. 5 Mediterranean Fan Palms

2. 1 Roebelenii Palm

3. 3 Queen Palms

4. 6 Dwarf Cape Rush

5. 8 Kniphofia- Red hot poker (yellow and red)

6. 3 Little John Dwarf Bottlebrush

7. 6 Leucospermum (red and yellow-Veldfire and Royal Hawaiian Brandi)

8. 4 Cousin Itt Acacia

9. 4 Crassula Capitella (Red Pagoda)

10. 1 Blue Agave

11. 2 Agave blue glow

12. 8 Parrot’s Beak Lotus Berthelotii

13.  6 Euphorbia Meloformis (Eve’s Needle Crest)

14.  2 Yucca harrimaniae (Spanish Bayonet)

15.  1 Yucca jewel

16.  6 Elephant Bush Portulacaria afra

17. 2 White Bird of Paradise

18. 1 Orange Bird of Paradise

19.  3 Barrel Cacti

20. 1 New Zealand Christmas Tree - Pohutukawa

So I tried to put my video here but it wouldn't take.  The first pic is the left of the yard, the second pic is a middle shot, and the third pic is the far right shot, showing the new fencing. 

 CÉZANNE’S GHOST http://a.co/bQdl7jp  offers you a chance to go to France without leaving your comfy chair.  Read on!

http://rolynnanderson.com

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Front Yard #Landscaping…DONE!

Meghan and Harry, move over. I’ve got the next big news bite backed by six months of execution, the amount of time it probably took to plan the royal couple's wedding. Finally, my giant front yard, once blanketed with thirsty grass, is lawnless. Instead of a slew of rotating sprinklers, we have a drip system that uses so little water, we’re planning our next trip with the money we save each month (uhh, after we pay the bill for the makeover, that is!). But hear this: the county is paying us $3,000 ($1 per square foot of removed grass) because we ripped out our green carpet and replaced it with drought tolerant plants! 

Succulents abound in our yard, plump plants that store water, a boon for forgetful gardeners. I’ve used of a variety of palms, Pindo palms, tall Queens, and Robellini’s (pigmy palms). To draw the eye away from our three car garage and giant concrete driveway, a meandering walkway cuts through the front yard welcoming guests to our front door. I used tall planters to add height and a modern look.  Overall I went for a contemporary Palm Springs/desert vibe where succulents belong. And we put in lights!  How I wish I could take a good picture of the space lit up at night. 

Instead of working with a landscape company and architect, I chose a bright, experienced man who has a yard maintenance business with only two guys working for him. I told Albert: “I want a yard requiring care an hour every other week. Period.  And you’ll be the man I hire to take care of it.” I had a picture in my head of the look I wanted…he helped me make it a reality.

Now comes the back yard. We begin next week!

While you're waiting for more pics, name your favorite plant in your yard/planter.  I name: Parrot’s Beak (groundcover-deer and drought resistant!), Crassula Capitella (orange/yellow succulents: Campfire and Red Pagoda), and dwarf rush (coming soon in the back yard)

In between choosing plants, I plan to write a mystery novel about a landscape architect...poison plants and burying bodies, hee-hee-hee!

Web and Blog:

http://rolynnanderson.com

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Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4990049.Rolynn_Anderson

Amazon

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When Pieces Don't Fit by Betsy Ashton

Back when I was beginning as a writer, I piled up tomes in cyber dust. I have probably six complete novels that have yet to see the light of day. Rightfully, in the format they were in when they went into "storage." Perhaps I'll find something in the stories that is worthy of updating and turning into a novel. Perhaps not, but it was all part of my tuition of learning my craft.

When I finally settled on one story, I knew, just knew, how it would go. I wanted to write about the dissolution of a marriage where both the husband and wife tell the story in first person. I picked a voice for the man:  crisp, short sentences or fragments thereof, limited showing of emotion until the turning point. I loved that brisk male voice.

For the wife, I wanted her to descend into drugs and madness. Long winding sentences tumbling back on each other. Wallowing in grief. Writing from the POV of a mad woman was a challenge and oh so liberating, because I could engage in purple prose under the guise of drugs.

The voices were distinct. No one had difficulty reading the beta copy and determining who was speaking. Trouble was, these were the wrong voices to tell the story. One of my beta readers pointed out that the story would be stronger with a single narrator. Problem was, I couldn't see either Mr. Brisk or Mrs. Rambling Rose carrying the story line.

Another beta reader suggested I sleep on it. I did. And about three in the morning, I sat bolt upright in bed with a voice yelling at me: "It's my story, dammit. Tell it my way." Well, yes ma'am.

That was the voice of a minor character. The mother of the wife, the mother-in-law. Really? This character? No way. But the more I thought about the change, the more I thought, way. Maybe she could carry the narration. I still wanted first person, because I wanted the narrower focus, the ability to delve deeply into emotions.

I played with a couple of chapters. The pieces fit. The story flowed. 90,000 words had to be rewritten in a completely different form. Writing became fun. Watching the new main character shape herself was thrilling. The more I got out of her way, the faster and better the narrative developed.

And thus, Mad Max was born. She was never meant to be a major character. The book was going to be a stand-alone until I changed the POV. Then, I could see a series. Three books later, she's as comfortable as a pair of bunny slippers and an old bathrobe. And yet, I never know what she's going to do next. She could do anything.

I'm broadening her reach. My publisher has a May Mystery Month sale on for ebooks. $.99 each for the three Mad Max books. Join me. Tell me if you like her. Tell me if you don't. What do you have to lose?

Unintended Consequences: https://amzn.to/2HHwttJ

Uncharted Territory: http://amzn.to/20EQMap

Unsafe Haven: http://amzn.to/2suJRKA