my backyard

To celebrate my 300^th review and 3^rd year reviewing on Unilocal,I want to review something really worth celebrating: my backyard.
It’s a very, very special place.
It is not like any other backyard I have known. This is partly due to the number of diverse roles it plays despite being a small space, and partly because of how it reaches in and touches souls. Visitors are consistently overwhelmed at not only how much is going on back here, but that it gets such constant use. Most people I know barely, if ever, use their backyards.
Not everyone likes it. Guests always have either a love/​hate reaction to it. No one is neutral. Those who love it, love how it feels. They instantly light up and smile. It’s a magical feeling being back here. Hard to explain. I think the woodsy wildlife habitat has a lot to do with it, but the elements that are humanly «managed», like container gardens and gazebo and entertaining areas, are special too. Those that hate it don’t respond to gardens nor birds and always have the same complaints: it’s so small! Where’s the lawn? Where’s the pool?
A friend with two children came over and they went crazy running all over, hopping from one stepping stone to another, exploring the different zones, having a blast. It was a big playground to them. The yard wasn’t missing anything; it was exciting, fragrant, colorful wilderness. (If a three-​year-​old enjoys something, chances are it’s pretty cool, because they’re often smarter than a lot of adults.)
Another brought his two boys, who immediately started exploring from a more scientific perspective, looking for insects and plants, comparing surfaces, talking about what they saw. Their father freaked out and told him not to touch anything, scared of them getting hurt «because there was no lawn» (they had shoes on – what’s the BFD?). He said he wouldn’t let his kids play in the yard of their new house until grass was put in, and when are we planning to put in a lawn? We told him we’re not. They left our party quickly! The natural setting teeming with life and learning did nothing for him. How sad that some people think a space has to be «finished» for kids to play — unfinished spaces, inside and out, provide learning opportunities!
The yard contains a dreamy hot tub for four, cabana, casual seating for ten, dining for six, music, a totally covered/​curtained patio for year-​round enjoyment, large shade umbrellas, lots of storage, and a fitness gazebo complete with exercise equipment, a recycled rubber paver floor and view of the stone birdbath with all its birds coming to wash up and drink and eat from various birdfeeders. If you’re lucky, you’ll see kitties in the bedroom window, watching the birds at the window-​mounted birdfeeder. The fences and trees are superhighways for squirrels. There is also a recycled rubber ground area (stepping stones and mulch) amidst all the cedar mulch and rugs for better cushioning when jumping rope.
The ground is covered with fallen leaves that decompose and bring up the best worms, pleasing the birds even more. Flowering groundcover trails throughout, punctuated by endless containers of happy plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies: snapdragons, alyssum, gerbera daisies, keys of heaven, marigolds, pineapple sage, cosmos, purple fountain grass, feather reed grass, citronella geraniums, chrysanthemums, powis castle artemisia, sweet william, columbines, coleus, roses, salvia, coreopsis sunfire, basil, pennywort, and various weeds that are sometimes under control (right now not). The trees include apple, lime, palms, and juniper. There is also a tropical paradise including split-​leaf philodendrons with leaves larger than dinner plates, a dieffenbachia defiantly outgrowing its little pot, an areca palm that isn’t thriving but refuses to die, and parlor palms that grow so slowly they’re still small after seven years. The «kitty grow-​station» includes two pots of catnip and about two dozen pots of wheat grass that their mom (me) brings in one at a time for their grazing pleasure.
The only ways to improve this fantastic place are to increase its size, its privacy (soundproofing would be great, but for now, the roar of the hot tub jets drowns out the neighbors’ sounds!), and maybe someday, a small pool. If it is meant to be. Lots of plans are possible except for it ever being «finished». It won’t be, on purpose.
My backyard is a wonderful place to rest, eat, be with loved ones, garden, compost, reuse, rake, scoop, be romantic, use an iPad or laptop, chat on the phone, blow bubbles, soak, work out, water, talk to birds, look up at the stars, and take the kitties out in their stroller. It’s a social place but also one of magical solitude. Where if you pay attention, you can hear the sky purr.

This summer, the backyard got the major makeover. From mostly dirt to what I call the island. My escape from realty. Palms, guava, lemons, apricots, persimmon and figs. A place to rest, BBQ, read and drink beer, all at the same time.