Yard Work

OK, I know yard work isn't all that glamorous, but someone has to do it. Our front yard needed some TLC, so today was the day. After a two-week bout with bronchitis, I felt strong enough to give it a go. It was hard work, and I have plenty of scratches from the bougainvillea thorns and one nasty popped blister on my index finger to prove this work takes some grit. 

I had hired a handyman to do several jobs, but after viewing his exceedingly sloppy work on applying fence sealer, I decided my labor would be more satisfying. Look at how overgrown this plant was. 

It was all over the place and a good ten feet in the air. I brought out the ladder and my electric hedge trimmers and tackled it one branch at a time. 

Here is the monster cut down to size. The green will all grow back and fill out within a couple weeks. 

The hedges were getting a little out of hand, and the bougainvillea was taking over, sprouting into the air and over the sidewalk. I had to take it back a bit.  

Here they are after a cut. Eventually, I need to cut down most of the bougainvillea so I can paint the wrought iron. As is, however, I already filled all three of my green bins and one of my spare black garbage bins. I have nowhere else to put my yard waste until pick-up Thursday morning. 

 I trimmed these two trees back significantly. I had to carry the ladder to the side of the house to reach the back and part of the tops. It's tricky business, but the weather was very pleasant; I had a good time. 

I also mowed, weed-whacked, and raked up tons of dry bougainvillea leaves and mown grass. 

Here is the corner all cleaned up. I also fiddled a bit with a loose sprinkler head. I might have stepped on it while cutting plants back. Anyway, it's better, although not perfect.