Building a pool? Part 4

Mosaics

Mosaics are expensive but make your pool more unique. If you buy the mosaic yourself online you can press the price a lot. There are some concern about buying mosaic yourself: you can't check the the quality or how they really look, and the tile company maybe don't agree on putting up mosaic that you bought.

Make sure you know what size you want on the mosaic. A piece of mosaic can sound big to you but if you have a big pool it could still look too small. If you wonder how big a piece of mosaic is comparing to your pool, you can cut out a rough figure in construction paper and lay on the bottom of the pool/ground, where you want the mosaic to be. Does it look big enough or do you need to order a bigger one?

Mosaic can be put anywhere in your pool; on the walls, benches, steps or floor. Some interior companies don't want to put mosaic on the bottom of the pool because the interior crew may step on it, and they are wearing shoes with nails under to keep a good grip. 

It requires bigger mosaic if you put the mosaic on the bottom of your pool. Some people like to have mosaics on the steps so they easier can see where the steps are.

 

What color you chose on your mosaic is also important. If the color is too close to the interior you will not be able to see the mosaic.

Doesn't it look cool with the gecko climbing up the wall? But sometimes it doesn't really turn out the way you imaging it.

Do you have a lot of mosaic and are afraid not to remember where you and your family decide to put them? Hold the mosaic on the spot you want it and outline it, or take picture of the pool with the mosaic lying where you want them. This works of cause only if you have bought the mosaic ahead.

Avocado

Growing my own avocado tree. Clean of the seed and let the avocado seed dry some before you plant it. Put it in a pot of soil with the pointy edge up. 

Don't cover the whole seed. 

Let about 1/3 stick up until it starts to grow then you cover the whole seed. 

I found some alternative way to start up, 

read more on this websites;

Grow an Avocado Tree from an Avocado Pit
 

I think I am going to try that on my next avocado pit.

Building a pool? Part 3

Water features

There are a lot of different kinds of water features. They can be made out of real stone or artificial. You can have a slide, a cave and a waterfall, or just one of them, or all. 

If you want a slide you probably want it to be as high as possible, most communities doesn’t allow the water feature to go above the wall and has to be built 5 feet from the wall, this can differ between cities and communities. If you have a slide the pool has to be 14 feet wide where the slide ends, for safety reason.

A cave can be wider to allow more people to sit in it or smaller for just two. The biggest caves are often shaped like a half circle, these caves are really deep and make the water feature big, make sure you have room for it and still keeping the required distance. If you are unsure if you got room for the type of water feature you want, call the water feature company you are going to use, they can send you drawing with measurement on, or you can ask them to come out and have a look on your yard before the excavation company starts digging.

Maybe you only want a waterfall. A waterfall can be small or big, wide or narrow, just remember the longer the water falls the higher is the sound the water is making. The waterfall can be built to look like rocks or the water can come out from some kind of vase.

Other things that can be built around your pool are planters and boulders.  To have plants by the pool make it look really exotic but remember, even a palm tree sometimes lose leaves in the pool, and even a small plant will eventually have a lot of roots. Many companies built boulders by the pool, to sit on or maybe jump from. The boulders are usually artificial but can be real stone.

To hide your pool equipment you can built a wall. It can look like your wall around the yard or it can be an extension to the grotto water feature. Decide which way you are going to get to the equipment and what angle the wall should have so it hides the equipment for you, but still make it easy to get behind it.

Humming Bird

I just love Humming Birds. I have lots of feeders in my backyard to attract a lot of them but it seams like our is very territorial. As soon as some other Humming Bird shows up it chase it away.

But last spring it found a mate and had some babies. We were lucky to have them right outside our window when they were practicing flying for the first time. One of the babies was very eager to fly but the other one didn't want to fly at all.

The humming bird we have is probably a Anna’s Hummingbirds, read more about them here;

All about birds

Building a pool? Part 2

Things to make a decision on before you built a pool

Here is some information and advice but please notice that this is only my thoughts. Before you take a decision on something get information from more than one source

Shape

The pool can have any shape. An oval shaped pool is probably easiest to clean but maybe a little boring. When you draw the steps and benches try to make them a part of the pool so they don’t stand out and leave corners for the sand and dirt to stay in.

If you are going to have a infloor system the infloor heads is going to "blow" the sand on the bottom of your pool toward the main drain in the middle of your pool. The plumbers are going to figure out how many infloor heads you need so you don't need to try to figure that out for yourself but a complex shaped pool request more infloor heads.

To choose a shape, visit pool stores with pool showrooms, go online, take a closer look to your friend’s pool, draw drafts, cut out from catalogs, get crazy and make a pool of your dream.

Spa

We did not built a spa because we wanted a bigger pool but now when it getting colder in the water the question is, was is it a good decision? If you have a spa you can warm up in the spa when you getting to cold in your pool.

To build a spa or not: Are you going to use it? Are relatives and friends going to use it when they come over? Are you prepared to give up some swimming area for the spa? A spa cost a little bit more than just a bigger pool. A spa need a heater and is usually built a little bit higher than the regular pool which means some extra cost. But it looks really nice and you can build the spa so the warmed up water flows over into the swimming pool.

Tiles

Visit many different tile companies and pool companies before you decide. There are so many different color, patterns, and sizes. Remember that algae are likely to start grow sooner or later between the tile so maybe it is a good thing to minimize that area. When you have decided on which tile you want, check if it is going to be cheaper if you buy the tile yourself. The tile company that are going to install the tile gives you a price per line feet. That usually includes a standard tile. If you want a more expensive one it is maybe cheaper to buy it yourself and let the company only install it. Ask what their installation price is, not all companies allow you to buy the tile yourself.

Baja Fairy Duster

Baja Fairy Duster is an excellent plant for an Arizona backyard, it is a plant that can take direct sun and don’t need a lot of water. You also don't have to prune unless it's necessary. Pruning can be used to make the shrubs denser. Another advantage with the plant is that it attracts Humming Birds.

It has a lovely red flower that looks like brooms. 

The flowers are followed by seed pods. When they dry they will pop open and release their seeds.

I picked some pods to get to the seeds before they were launched.  I planted them in a pot inside and now it is only to wait and see if I can multiply my plant.

Read more about the plant at;

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

horticulture unlimited inc.

Saguaro Cactus

A Saguaro Cactus is probably not a good choice for a cactus in your back yard unless you have a huge backyard because this cactus can get enormously big. It grows slow and can live for more than a 100 year.

They may grow their first side arm after about 20 years, but some never grow one.

The saguaro blossom is the State Wildflower of Arizona. It blooms in April through June and opens up at night and blooms only for one day.

Read more about Saguaro cactus at;  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum website and Science Friday.

Building a pool?

Things to make a decision on before you built a pool

Here is some information and advice but please notice that this is only my thoughts. Before you take a decision on something get information from more than one source

Size

The size of the pool is depending on how you are planning to use it, the size of your yard, and the prize you are willing to pay for it.

The usage of the pool affects the size of it, a pool for exercise needs to be long, a play pool needs room for water features, and a pool for a big family needs room for everyone.

Some communities have rules on how much of your backyard can be used for a pool, and even if your community doesn’t have one, make sure you understand how much room the pool will take in your back yard. Some people like to have grass, flowers, and bushes in their yard, others don’t like the work a living and growing yard gives. Just be sure not to build the pool too big, so the yard look crammed. A good way to get an idea how big part of the yard the pool is going to take is to spray the outlines on the ground. Is there going to be room for the decking, the pool pump, and the water features? There are rules for distance between the following: the gas heater's exhaust pipe and the neighbors’ wall, the pool and the house, water features and the neighbors’ wall and for how big the pool has to be when you have a slide. The rules are specific to your town, contact your city to be sure you have the current measurement.

The prize of the pool depends how big it is. The bigger it is, the more they have to dig, the more: concrete, steel, tile, and pebbles they have to use. The bigger the pool is the longer the distance is for the plumbing and electric wire. You might need a bigger pump and more: lights, in floor heads, skimmers, and benches. A bigger pool also requires more water and chemicals.

Also have in mind, a bigger pool has more tiles to clean, and more square feet to brush after a storm.

Planting Potatoes

Do you have some old forgotten potatoes in your pantry? - It is time to plant them.

If you have a small spot over in your garden with no direct sun you can plant some potatoes there. 

You don’t have to use seed potatoes, old potatoes from the grocery store works just fine. If your potatoes are big you can cut them into smaller pieces just make sure every part has a couple of “eyes”. 

Dig a small hole for each potato. Don't dig to deep, planting the potato close to the surface will help the plant to start grow faster. When the potato plant starts to grow you should rake some more dirt around the plant to make sure no potato will be exposed to sunlight. A potato that is exposed to sunlight will produce chlorophyll and become green. Try to stay away from green potatoes.

I planted these potatoes in December. If you live in Phoenix area you have to plant your potatoes early or they will burn under the Phoenix sun.

Read more about how to plant potatoes;

Organic gardening

The Old Farmer's Almanac

Roadrunner

What animals can you find in an Arizona backyard?

For example; A Roadrunner.

Here is one taking a closer look at our turtles. Since Roadrunners eats reptiles, we got a little worried. 

Roadrunners does also eat lizards. They slam their prey against a rock to make it easier to swallow. The Greater Roadrunner is a pretty big bird, bigger than a Pigeon, so close outside our window it felt like it was huge. I don't like when it look at my turtles like they are food but it is welcome to eat any Scorpion it can find.


Read more about the Greater Roadrunner on this website. 
All about birds 

Building a pool

Before you start building a pool, think about...

Building a pool is hard work, but maybe not the way people think, before they try it. The hardest part is all the decisions you and your family have to make. 

To get knowledge about everything is time-consuming but can save you a lot of money and keep you from getting problems. If you are going to build the pool yourself and have never done it before, it could be a good thing to hire a pool supervisor. He can help you find subcontractors, make sure the work is done correctly before they leave and even help you with start up. It is a lot cheaper to hire a pool supervisor then to let a pool company build your pool.

The first task you have to tackle is how you want it to look. If you’re building it yourself the only thing that is holding you back, except money, is your imagination. It could look like anything you want. Even if you are going to let a pool company build your pool, you can bring your drawing and decision to the seller. He will be delighted when he sees that you made half of his job, and you will be able to have a deeper discussion about your pool and your needs.

Here are the things you have to make a decision on:

• Size: is the pool to cool off in, or for exercise
• Depth: 6 feet play pool or 9 feet diving pool or something in between
• Shape: so many to choose from
• Water features: slide, grotto, waterfall, planters, boulders, walls; real or artificial
• Spa, or not
• Mosaics: expensive but make the pool look more unique
• Tile: there are tons of different ones
• Interior: different kind of size, color, and brand of pebbles or plaster
• Lights: cheap or more efficient LED lights with light shows
• Pumps; cheap and simple, or expensive and efficient
• Cleaning; in floor, or some kind of vacuum cleaner
• Filter: sand, cartridge, or DE
• Heater: gas, electric, or even solar
• Control panel: cheapest one outside, remote or a panel inside
• Chloride or Saltwater pool
• Decking: the decking doesn't have to be regular acrylic lace, it can look like any stone and still be made of concrete
• Holes for: umbrellas, basketball hoop, volleyball net, you name it
• Mist system: yes, you can have a mist system around your pool
• Fence, or not. Some cities require it.

Building a pool is a lot of work and there are a lot of decisions to make. If you are going to hire the subcontractors yourself there are even more, a lot more. I will come back and give advise through all these steps and tell you more about them, so it is easier for you to make good decisions.

Time to prune the grape vines

My husband told me it is time to cut down the grape vines. 

I say it is too early, it can still get cold again. 

But they are really in the way. 

There are three ways to prune grape vines. You cut them down a lot to get a lot of grapes, or you do not cut them at all and have them grow how they want mostly for the look and some grapes, and then my way. 

I cut down my vines as much as I can muster without felling sad. I also want them to grow over the arbor. An arbor is like a gate portal. 

I can see in the summer how the grapes are going to hang down, and I can grab a few when I pass under them.

There are still a lot of vines left but the pass way is cleared at least, and I left some vines up on the arbor.

Here is a link to a website that explain why and how to prune your grape vines.  Right to Thrive