Episode #21... Hardscaping The Bus Stop
It takes Bits and Pieces to Build a Bus Stop!

March 25, 2006



As usual, when I started this project, I had no idea of what I was doing or how the Bus Stop would look when finished. The shape was basically determined by the damage done to the lawn while moving the bus on the east side and the driveway on the west.
I built a winding path up through the center. I drilled and spiked 1" black poly pipe in place to define the edges of the path, and then spread 3,700 pounds of crushed terra cotta as the paving.

I dug a circular hole 2 feet deep and 4 1/2 feet diameter, then laid 5 courses of Roman Stack Stone around the rim. This reservoir was then lined with heavy rubber pond liner. The fountain urn is 24" in diameter and is 22" tall. It stands on a 12" x 12" stone pedestal. The water circulates via a 400gph submersible pump.
The fountain head adjusts to several patterns, but this is the flow I chose.
The fountain structure.

I brought a very large burl from another garden in and added a new burl that I found in the woods.

In the very center of it all, I put together a 250 piece, 7' diameter jigsaw puzzle.

On one of my trips to the nursery, I spotted a "must have" gazing ball and stand. It sits directly in front of the bus bench.

I added a large stone pot planted with Thread-branch Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera), another "Glow in the Dark" gazing ball,

and a smaller stone pot, planted with English Daisies (Bellis perennis).

The bus stop could be illuminated at night by this reproduction of a French street lamp, but I opted for black light rather than white... for effect!

The fountain is illuminated at night as well...

So that you won't get bored while you're sitting there, waiting for the bus, I added a 200 watt, 8 speaker, sattelite radio stereo sound system.

To be continued.....

I suppose that I should mention the residents of the Bus Stop as well.....

It wouldn't really be a Bus Stop if there weren't a few pigeons hanging around, would it?

To take care of bugs and slugs, a toad named Dude moved in beneath one of the Junipers.

Puffin mostly just hangs out....

Leonard and Leslie are here to keep the peace, but its always nice to know that your Guardian Angel is close by just in case!

Personally.... I'm kind of attracted to that pretty little Pixie named Rose....


To be continued.....

June 1, 2006

WOW! It's amazing!

Beautiful!

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We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart.

Wow - looks absolutely terrific. I'm sure you're enjoying this view a heck of a lot more than the old bus!! I like how you turned that 20 year experience into a new theme to use!

Way to Go,Bill

That is Fabulous!

Just think really soon Patty can be sitting right there on that bench!

(psssst, wish I could too)

Funny Dianna, I was just thinking the exact same thing.


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Summer Camp '07, July 14th weekend, won't you join us?
summer camp thread 1, 2, 3,4

quote:

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Originally posted by slredmond:
Wow! Tell us how you did the walkway. Did you dig it out first? Did you use landscaping fabric underneath? I assume that is rock?

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I dug up the entire Bus Stop to try and get all the roots from the perennial weeds (blackberries, salmon berries, Bracken)

I used leftover tar paper rather than weed fabric.... because I had it! I drilled the poly pipe frame and spiked it in place with 10" nails through the paper and filled the 1" framing with 3,800# of the terra cotta colored crushed rock. (100# bags)

A few blackberries have tried to grow through the tar paper barrier and rock, but I'm sure they will be easily handled as they appear.

quote:

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Originally posted by slredmond:
Thanks! It looks terrific. So - when are scheduled to come do my yard?!?!

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.... as soon as I fulfill the 17 requests for Hummingbird Houses that already came in!

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Ooooo, I asked a long, long time ago!

You can come here and landscape my yard anyday Bill!

quote:

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Originally posted by Tonya:
BTW Willy...did you know that both links for the burls are the same? It is gorgeous and I enjoyed seeing it twice, but would like to see the other one as well....

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Whoops!

Thanks Bill!

I like this one better than the other one! The moss gives it more character!

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Bote and Babe's World

I'll send ya some of my moss... They are sooo cool!

Hopefully in the next few years, Doug and I can get a road trip planned and come for a visit...I have seen so many pics from others' visits and here in Wild Willy's area... *sigh* I need a bigger yard!! :

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Bote and Babe's World

That is really beautiful! I would love to be sitting there!

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Some hearts, like evening primroses, open more beautifully in the shadows of life.
Shirley's Secret Room

That bus stop looks nice . The bench looks like a nice place to stop and set a spell . Looks like you really have some nice land to work . I need a yard the size of yours . Boy could I have fun with that . LOL .

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Successful gardening begins with trial and error and ends with dirty knees .
Happy Gardening !!!!!