Garden Activities: August 11, 2026

Tuesday started out on a warm note from a friendship point of view. Krystyna brought another home-baked health-conscious glazed coffee cake to share with the crew who were happy to partake and spend some time talking about travels, young grand children and Katie’s moving house. Present were: Krystyna Bacik, Beverly Kemmerling, Susanna Mac, Katie Shank, Nancy Taylor Walker, Marna Wensil, Ann Wright and myself.

Of course we had to go up and see what progress had been made on the new water feature since last week when we saw it in its early stage. There were no workmen or their vehicles on site. Before getting to it, we could hear the burbling of the waterfall, which is one of the main benefits to visitors. It appears finished! The path around it has been reconstructed, and the irrigation heads were visible along the borders.

Katie, Krystyna, and Susanna from the top.

Beverly, yours truly, Janet and Krystyna entering from stage left.

Beverly on a convenient perch at the bottom of the falls with Susanna, Katie and Marna in the background. 

Krystyna on the opposite side of the pondless reservoir from which water is pumped back up to the top of the falls. Ann and Marna are in the background.

The overall effect is that of a longer more naturalistic falls.

Once we were in the area, we discovered issues which can be missed when time is spent mainly on the zig zag trail. The grape arbor just below the falls had stems reaching out and ensnaring the shrubs and desert willow just up hill.

Me cutting some vines heading uphill; Janet redirecting a dangling vine to the arbor top, Krystyna, Ann, Susanna, Katie obscured by Susanna looking on, and Beverly photographing the scene.

Like the prior time we tackled this, the objective wasn’t to trim it as if we were preparing for a wine grape harvest, but only to keep it within bounds.

Significant patrches of bulbine are in some unexpected places in the garden. This is a patch that actually spans the trail downhill towards the service area, so that was deadheaded. 

Marna, Krystyna and Susanna.

Then on the trail below the arbor and leading away from the service area, there were a number of trees or woody shrubs sprouting on the edge of the trail against the bender board border.

It took all of us supervising Janet to get out one stubborn tree.

Enjoy Katie’s monthly YouTube video on the website.

Many thanks to Beverly, Susanna, Nancy and Marna for their images.

Enjoy the garden and particularly the new water feature...KMM