OMG, you won't be able to sleep tonight.

k

How exciting,,,what are they going to do ? c

OHHH! the anticipation, keep us posted.

Annette

Jumping up and down for you! Like Kathy said,"OMG, you won't be able to sleep tonight."

Edna

They are DOING EVERYTHING! Or at least trying to. The guys macheted three of our yards (drainage effects three yards). They cut down 5 of my smaller but deformed trees and we will have to get tree cutters to remove the dead one as it's a bit precarious...
The bobcat man is pushing the earth around to create a drainage path as we get ALL of the water from two major streets and three side streets (it's incredible) into our yard and a drainage area installed by the City in the 70's. The City refuses to take care of that now (don't start me on our city government) so we've had to save to get the job done. So they are fixing the drainage "thing" (altered as the land sunk) and then filling up the big giant hole where the land sunk and we will re-route the water in our back yard to a dry creek (and some extra underground, as it's a LOT of water) - a clearing pond and then into two large cisterns. The overflow will go back into the old drainage area but first into a rain garden for native herbs and plants (that also feed birds).
Eventually we'll get a side patio with doors leading from the house (narrow area) to assist drainage there and make more livable space, a large round patio off our small deck, the creek, pond, a place above this on the hill for a hot tub (wood fired, enzyme cleaned), my natural laundry drier over the cistern bed (clothesline), a flat level area for an eventual greenhouse, side yard extension of the veggie garden and orchard of the back yard of the 2nd house.
It's a HUGE job and I have a definate budget to live within right now...so I'm not sure what we can get done yet. The drainage pond and cisterns go in now. Then we'll see when we can afford fencing and patio and platform for hot tub...the side patio area and doors from rooms which now just have windows....
But it's a start!!!

Yee Haaaaw! You must be so excited, GGG!! I can't wait to see it all. I hope you're taking pictres as things progress. I'd love to see the before and after shots!

MeMo

Oh WOW! And I thought we had a project! No comparison, our project pales compared to yours! Yes, please post pictures! It really sounds like you have a huge problem with water that you have put plenty of thought into to correct. It really is too bad the city does not take care of the problem it created for you. The cisterns will be lovely for watering, etc. Can't wait for the next update.

WOW !! Sounds like you are doing LOTS of great things. I was just in your neck of the woods last night and today. We spent the night w/ my daugher and then this AM went to the plant nursery Pike Family on Camellia . Got some trellis and pots. They were having a huge sale . What is your favorite nursery(ies) in Atlanta ? I get there so often and would like to see the places you like. c

I am so glad for you! I hope you are taking lots of pictures of the project. Sometimes we just have to bite the bullet and get professionals in for the heavy stuff!

Congratulations and good luck!

Fantastic news. I'm happy for you and oh, what a lot of work still to come. I hope everything goes smoothly.

Libby

Trailrunner...you get here often?! Where? I live downtown by the Zoo (well, a mile or two from it).
I honestly do not have favorite nurseries here anymore. Mostly because I can get so much inexpensively through my old job if I need it. So I have not been to a nursery in years, not to a Pikes in three years (but am going this Friday by coincidence).
Habersham is a lovely place. That was my #1 fave place in the city.
My favorite "not nursery" is the Perimeter Collage Botanical Gardens which has sales frequently. All natives!
My favorite area nurseries are in Athens - Thyme after Thyme and Goodness Grows, for prices I like the Loganville Growers Outlet (great prices on shrubs).
Fayetteville has Nearly Natives which I hear is wonderful
There are several places near Alpharetta which I've not been to which are said to be great: Autumn Hill Nursery and also Perennial Grace.

I'm sure in the next several years we'll be hitting them all, lol.

There is NOTHING in much of my yard now. The back area is still rather weedy and I'll have to hand remove most of those (unless the workers will do it for me) but the machine can't get that close to trees or fences (or some of my current plantings). The rest is being gently sloped and the big culvert is full. We realized that a pipe was missing for another drain area - so we filled up the giant hole in the existing pipe, filled in the culvert and the water will enter the area the way it should, down the drain!
Monday they should have chipped or removed all trees, hopefully removed the rest of unwanted materials (old stairs, old tarps over dirt from the renovation) and begin digging for the cisterns. Then they get those set and can dig the dry creek and clearing pond and that's it for the big machines I hope!

My son lives on 8th by Piedmont park and my daughter lives off of Druid Hills rd in Buckhead. They rent. I come up to see them every couple weeks w/ my DH. I had not been to any plant places in Atlanta before. My DD's roommate said that she knew this was a good place. The sale is quite good..otherwise way to pricey for me. I loved looking though. Thanks for the other suggestions. I never get to Athens anymore. will see about the others. I am excited for you !! I can hardly wait to see pics. c

I live about 15 minutes from 8th at Piedmont! My hubby works in Buckhead at Lenox & P. Tree

I can imagine how excited you must be. Have you taken progress pictures?

We've been shut down by an unhappy inspector today. According to the bulldozer guy we did not need a permit to correct errosion. According to the inspector we do.
We called in a gal to intervene for us. It will cost a bit but hopefully we'll be back on track in a day. So yes, I have plenty of photos I can throw some up in the Gallery.

GGG

Hi GGG~ so good to hear that your long-awaited project is finally taking place! Woo-hoo! :) B

It's always something isn't it.

So, my dream is not going well.
I am extremely frustrated. I will not go into it all here because I am afraid someone who I don't want to read it will see what I have to say. But this city is CORRUPT beyond belief.

You're doing the right thing. Save it til after you're done. Sorry it's so hard to get anything done in cities. Even in this small town, a permit is required to build a patio. On the ground. Out of recycled brick.

Well, according to the city we now don't need a permit but they will not allow us to continue anyway. Perhaps permanently. I've got photos of the back yard flooded to take down. If those don't work then I guess I get a lawyer!