August 16: Mini Stone Retaining Wall

Here are some more pictures of the driveway bank around the curve. You can see that we inserted cumaru boards to serve as an additional gutter for draining purposes.  It looks so clean and sharp!  Here is the mini stone retaining wall to support the bank.  The rocks were there buried deep into the dirt.  Rocky dug them out and reset them.  

Yesterday, I spent a few hours pulling random poison ivy vines throughout the myrtle (periwinkle).  I did the plastic bag dance--doubling up with newspaper plastic baggies on each hand and pulling the vines out so that they don't touch anything and grow back.  It makes a big difference!  It is so pretty as you drive up the driveway!  I can't wait to share the finished product.  In the fall, my goal is to plant some bulbs in this bank so that when spring comes everything will bloom and be colorful.  Check out a few before pictures...

BEFORE...taken last fall...

BEFORE:  

taken a month ago...The burning bush was growing over onto the driveway.

IN PROGRESS: 

 this is what Becca and Eric helped us clear this past weekend....

CURRENTLY...

You can see how the stone wall is at the base where the gutters are.

If you look to the right corner of the screen, you can see that it is open underneath the steps to help with water drainage.

The soil between the driveway and gutter will be seeded to grow grass.  

It should look very sharp when it is all settled. :)

Another view of the progressing stone wall looking towards the curve.

You can see the yew trees in the back and burning bush on the right. 

This picture shows the cumaru boards we laid down for the gutter.

This is a side shot of the bank.  You can see the yew trees and maples from this angle.  

The surveyors finished up their work today.  They were so nice and helpful!   The next step will be to send a crew back over to set the pins.  Thanks Scott for being so helpful in setting all of the survey work up!   This is a huge milestone!