So, after 20+ years of benign neglect we saw a tremendous need for reshaping our yard: bringing up levels, expanding slopes, widening parking access.  The first step for improvement on any level is to see the need for change.  We needed dirt.  We needed a plan for where to place it.  We needed a plan for how to protect it from washing away in the rains.   We threw out the net to find who were the contractors in our area best suited in both expertise and our budget to do the dirty work.  That is, haul in and compact the dirt.  The Lord led us to a family owned and run business that was well respected in our community and came in at almost half the bid of their competitors.  After hundreds of yards of dirt was brought in and compacted we walked the property and became alarmed at the sandy, loose structure and concerned ourselves with the potential for erosion.  Again, seeing the need is the first step for planning.  The Lord led us to a local lumbar yard and the purchasing of jute to cover all slopes.  This is a rough netting fabric often seen for slope maintenance along freeways.  Still, after applying the jute we were unconvinced we had done enough to secure the slopes.  Again, seeing the need led to researching the plants best suited to this zone, the slope, sunlight and watering needs of this location.  After connecting with a local nursery we added our names to a list of customers in line for their next shipment of vinca.  Passing this nursery early in the morning because it was closed we stopped, by divine “chance” at their competitor’s in the adjacent town and discovered they had more than enough ground cover in two varieties to meet our needs on the spot.  In addition, the garden expert that waited on us provided counsel on shrubbery, discounted our bill 10% because of the volume of our purchase, and offered to stop by our property to make sure our water timers were   working properly.

The astonishing and delightful discovery to top off this wonderful encounter, is that we shared the last name with this sweet lady and she graduated from the University in the town my husband came from!  Is that fun, or what?!!! 

To further stabilize the slope we purchased 40 2x4x9 foot lengths of cheap lumber and stakes to nail alongside as supports to prevent further erosion.  Then, thinking of the history this area has for torrential rains, the Lord gave us a pattern for laying down the wood that would serve a dual purpose of slowing down and diverting the water flow while providing a pattern for planting each variety of ground cover in adjacent sections.  Brilliant!

Looking forward to lots of hours of planting and anticipating more joy in seeing the Lord supplying our needs in the years ahead.  God is good.  ALL THE TIME!

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