In the afternoon, I took a break and set out to discover the patio. The new office complex consists of two buildings built at angles on the grounds. There is a landscaped patio that wraps right around the buildings. One area has tables set up with patio umbrellas.
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| Patio with tables and umbrellas |
The rest of it has benches, one or two picnic tables, and lots of ledges edging the planted areas on which to perch.
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| New apartment building across the street |
I was most interested in the plantings:
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| Succulents and other drought tolerant plants |
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| More planted areas and seats that are hidden from view in the picture |
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| A couple of picnic tables in the corner |
I have not been down there during lunch time, but at 3:00 p.m., there were only a handful of people, taking a break.
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| Trees to screen the view of the adjoining office building |
I really liked this planted area, with a dry stream running down the middle:
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| Dry stone stream |
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| From the other side |
I am thinking of my narrow side yard - I had wanted something a little like this in that area; I need to show these pictures to my gardener friend and do some planning!
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| Another look! |
Then I found another planted area with a similar dry stream, but this one widened to a small stone pond!
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| Stone pond |
It was a windy, cool afternoon. I enjoyed the fresh air, though. I am looking forward to warmer days when I will enjoy being in this patio.
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| The area behind the patio with the umbrellas |
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| Planted areas with gravel paths |
After I came home, I changed out of my clothes, made a cup of tea and called Aunt C to check on her and then, called cousin P to see how she was, as she had a doctor's appointment today. She said she was feeling OK and asked me if I could drive her to the office supplies store to fax a document (apparently, she faxed it earlier, but the company she faxed it to claimed they never received it). So, I got dressed again and took her to the office supplies stores. After I came home, I ate the leftovers from my lunch (I had taken the rest of the spaghetti I cooked for yesterday's dinner) for dinner. I took the trash cans to the curb, but didn't water the back garden because it was so windy. Later, I video chatted with daughter.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Getting some landscaping ideas for my garden
- The wind didn't down the eucalyptus tree!
- A good day at the office
- Being able to help my cousin
- Chatting with my daughter
Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the trash cans in
- Go to the office
- Attend a work-related meeting
- Water the back garden
- Run the dishwasher
- Water the indoor plants
How was your Monday? Did you have a good start to your week?
The patio looks like a good place to take a break with it's lovely plantings. I think I would ask if the next office meeting could be held there. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a very good idea, Live and Learn! I had a supervisor once who used to take the unit out to breakfast for our staff meetings - back in the good old days! :)
DeleteAre you still thinking about getting the Eucalyptus tree pruned back this year?
ReplyDeleteThat patio looks like a lovely place to take a break! I really like the view of those new apartment buildings, they look quite nice. I'm sure it's super expensive to live there, though.
Do you know what the round, flat succulents with the red edge are? I've never seen those before. They're pretty. It was a great idea to take the pictures to show to your gardener! I think that if I had a lot of money, I'd hire a landscape designer to come up with the look and do the work, for our property. I just don't have any inspiration and then never want to do the work either, which is why I just end up buying flowers at the garden center and leaving them in pots where I can see them. Have a great day, I'm glad your aunt is feeling better.
Nathalie, yes, I still want to prune the tree; it's on my list of things to do, just haven't taken the time to call for an estimate, schedule an appointment, request time off from work to be home when they come out, etc.
DeleteThere are a whole set of those apartment complexes coming up around downtown, all being developed by one developer/company. They are supposed to look like Italian architecture and have fancy Italian names. The 470 sq studio apartments rent from $1,825 and the one bedroom apartments from $2,100. Which is actually less than what my daughter pays for her studio apartment. Yes, I looked into the rents when the office move was announced as an alternative to commuting! I can walk across - there's even a stairway connecting the buildings through the parking garage! LOL!
Aren't those succulents lovely? I don't know exactly what kind, euphorbia of some sort, I am assuming. I have seen them at the plant nursery. I might get a plant for my garden.
Thank you for showing us these photos of your patio area. It is much larger than I expected. How lucky you are to have access to this pretty and tranquil area for decompressing during your work breaks. I am loving the planted areas and I am glad they inspire you with ideas for your own garden.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is surprisingly spacious, isn't it? I am looking forward to spending some time, down there. The other office building had a lovely park and patio area, too, but over the years, the number of homeless people using the grounds have increased to the point where it wasn't very pleasant to sit and have lunch there.
DeleteIt's a lovely patio. I didn't know about dry streams. Such a nice concept. Beautiful and energy saving!
ReplyDeleteDry streams are becoming quite a popular landscaping feature, these days, as we convert to more drought tolerant gardens.
DeleteHow lovely to have access to such a pretty outdoor space near your office.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to taking my breaks out there. :)
DeleteSuch a beautiful patio and I like the European look of the apartment building. That was kind of you to take your cousin to the store.
ReplyDeleteI somehow managed to leave the alarm from yesterday on the bedside clock, so it was beep, beep at 6.45 am! There was a plus side to this, though, as when I looked out of the bathroom window, everything was a stunning white, every twig on every branch on our tall trees and it was quite breathtaking (even if it does seem unseasonal). I was able to take a photo (the snow would melt off the trees later). In the front yard I discovered that a wild cherry tree had fallen across the driveway, so later DH got his chain saw and removed it. It snowed again today but in the afternoon the ladies and I bottled some maple syrup.
Thank you, Bushlady. More snow! Winter is really holding on, isn't it? Is it at least helping the sap to flow better? Does it extend the syrup making season? Glad you were able to bottle more syrup.
DeleteThat patio looks like a great place to have your lunch! I hope you will get much enjoyment out of it. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie.
DeleteThe garden looks lovely, a nice place to recharge your energy at breaks. There is something very special about succulents.
ReplyDeleteYes, I need to make it a point to go down there! I tend to stay at my desk during breaks and read blog comments, etc.! I didn't used to care much for succulents, but, with our drought conditions and all, I am starting to learn more about them!
DeleteGreen space to enjoy on your lunch break - love it
ReplyDeleteYes, and I was amused to see that there were a couple of benches that were facing away from the patio and towards the plantings - for those who want to be by themselves, I suppose! I know where I'll be sitting! :)
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