Chez Cerise Takes Shape

The long-awaited rock patio under the cherry tree is under construction, and in fact should be completed in the next few days. This should make outdoor meals more pleasant.

To prepare the site, Mike dug out the rough oval, deep enough to allow for several inches of hard-packed gravel and then sand. Gravel and sand were delivered and spread, then he began to lay out the rock. Natural rock is of course not particularly regular in shape, so putting it all together was something like building a jigsaw puzzle... only harder.

At this point, the work on the east end of the patio (see the photo below)is basically complete. On the other end, most of the rock has been laid in place temporarily; Mike has to finish scooping out the sand and laying each piece down permanently, on the level. When all is complete, we will sweep more sand over it to fill in the cracks and crevices.

We'll start some little creeping ground-cover plants to grow in the sand, and this fall when the weather is cooler and wetter, we'll plant some shrubs and perennials around the border. But the cook-outs can start anytime!