It is always fun to do a makeover. For this project our subject was a tiny pit filled with debris under a layer of sickly weeds.
My daughter lives in a small studio apartment in Pasadena. Outside her front door is a community courtyard where the kids ride their skateboards. Behind her apartment she had a small space filled with litter. Melanie was looking for a place to sit outdoors with some degree of privacy. The filthy pit was her only option
Melanie’s space was further complicated by a raised walkway that divided a small area into two even smaller sections. Eight feet from her back door is a concrete wall with a busy street on the other side. If Melanie was to keep the walkway clear for access to the gas meters located two apartments further along the walkway, her outside living area was confined to the five by twelve foot section that was three feet lower than the walkway. Actually, some of the twelve feet belongs to her neighbor. We commandeered his space with his enthusiastic blessing.
At the east and west end of the pit, we had eight foot high concrete walls running perpendicular to the apartment. They effectively walled off the pit creating a very private space with excellent shade at one end.
My daughter lives in a small studio apartment in Pasadena. Outside her front door is a community courtyard where the kids ride their skateboards. Behind her apartment she had a small space filled with litter. Melanie was looking for a place to sit outdoors with some degree of privacy. The filthy pit was her only option
Melanie’s space was further complicated by a raised walkway that divided a small area into two even smaller sections. Eight feet from her back door is a concrete wall with a busy street on the other side. If Melanie was to keep the walkway clear for access to the gas meters located two apartments further along the walkway, her outside living area was confined to the five by twelve foot section that was three feet lower than the walkway. Actually, some of the twelve feet belongs to her neighbor. We commandeered his space with his enthusiastic blessing.
At the east and west end of the pit, we had eight foot high concrete walls running perpendicular to the apartment. They effectively walled off the pit creating a very private space with excellent shade at one end.
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Our first step was to clean the litter and weeds out of the space. We raked up roofing tile, bits of plastic, a small rug, aluminum cans, bottle caps, cardboard and numerous unidentified objects. We pulled the sickly weeds growing in a mat of leaves and roots over a bed of coarse gravel. We removed seven garbage bags of litter from this tiny space.
Once we had raked the gravel until it was level, it was time to go shopping. We were somewhat limited in our choices because everything must ride home in Melanie’s compact sedan.
Once we had raked the gravel until it was level, it was time to go shopping. We were somewhat limited in our choices because everything must ride home in Melanie’s compact sedan.
First, Melanie needed some sort of stairs to get into the pit. She elected to go with concrete block as being the most stable material to build a stile over the low wall between the walkway and the pit. She needed one step up on the walkway side and three steps down on the pit side. We put the concrete blocks in the trunk of her car.
Every garden must have plants. Knowing my daughter, I suggested succulents for this area that might get over one hundred degrees in the summer. Still, she needed something with big leaves to soften the walls so we selected a banana because they grow fast. She also wanted a Passion fruit because she loves the flowers. We’ll see if it gets enough water to live.
After the shopping we were exhausted and crashed for the night. The next day Melanie and her sister Melissa left early to do more shopping. I just handed them money and stayed on the sofa. They returned with potting soil, pots, and modular tiles for decking.
Every garden must have plants. Knowing my daughter, I suggested succulents for this area that might get over one hundred degrees in the summer. Still, she needed something with big leaves to soften the walls so we selected a banana because they grow fast. She also wanted a Passion fruit because she loves the flowers. We’ll see if it gets enough water to live.
After the shopping we were exhausted and crashed for the night. The next day Melanie and her sister Melissa left early to do more shopping. I just handed them money and stayed on the sofa. They returned with potting soil, pots, and modular tiles for decking.
They found the decking material at IKEA. It consists of wood strips on a plastic backing with a snap together system of pegs and holes. Melanie found this easy to snap together. I’m not sure how long it will last over the large gravel bedding. I’m sure the tiles can be repaired with duct tape on the back.
On the second day of work, Melissa repotted all the plants into the attractive pots. I took pictures, directed, swept dirt, and washed Melanie’s two yellow outdoor chairs. Melanie snapped the decking pieces together covering the gravel in the pit. We moved a small bench that could be used for a table or seating into the pit.
On the second day of work, Melissa repotted all the plants into the attractive pots. I took pictures, directed, swept dirt, and washed Melanie’s two yellow outdoor chairs. Melanie snapped the decking pieces together covering the gravel in the pit. We moved a small bench that could be used for a table or seating into the pit.
By lunchtime on the second day, this tiny garden was ready for us to sit and enjoy our cheese and crackers outside in the sun. The neighbor man came out to praise our transformation and a small lizard appeared on the wall beside the walkway to sun himself and inspect our handiwork.
The garden still needs a water feature or some statuary in the shadiest corner. The lizard might appreciate a low bowl of water. Melanie is considering Japanese style lanterns hanging from the railing of the deck above for lighting. Perhaps a row of candles along the walkway wall would be sufficient.
For now, this pleasant little garden is a joy to look out on and will provide a private place for sitting outdoors. Perhaps the single man next door, will decide to visit my single daughter in this enchanting garden.
The garden still needs a water feature or some statuary in the shadiest corner. The lizard might appreciate a low bowl of water. Melanie is considering Japanese style lanterns hanging from the railing of the deck above for lighting. Perhaps a row of candles along the walkway wall would be sufficient.
For now, this pleasant little garden is a joy to look out on and will provide a private place for sitting outdoors. Perhaps the single man next door, will decide to visit my single daughter in this enchanting garden.
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