1. Got a new chipper/shredder. Cleaned up a backlog of garden debris and then went crazy with trimming and editing (removal). Took out two six inch mesquite, three largish Tx persimmon, about a half dozen large Tx Mtn Laurel, three large clumps of Condalia, a large patch of Tx torchwood, a passel of nandina and much more. The pile is now three or four times as large and still growing.

2. Transplanted a few little items, like this 14 foot Yucca rostrata in the background. Used ancient Egyptian technology and a visit to the chiropractor. The yucca is ding fine and I am recovering.

3. A new planting bed. Dug the bed in the first pic down to bedrock (about 14 inches), removed rock and filled with commercial garden soil mix. Hauled off a truckload of crap rock, then used the rest to build the retaining wall in the following pic. The blue tub holds water plants and fish waiting on completion of the following project.

4. Currently putting a concrete shell over the rubber pond liner. Raccoons kept chewing holes in the rubber to get at hiding leopard frogs. Will line the walls with mortared rock. Doing 6 - 12 80pound bags of sackcrete every day. A six bag day starting about 8 a.m. is done by about 11. Today was a 12 bag day - 7:30 am to 3 pm. A bit much. Just got back from a 9:30 pm run to Lowes for my six bag day tomorrow. Well, this will probably hold me until Labor Day.