esrosedotblog

NAKED

We got the courtyard trees pruned today.

I went through a lot of gyrations trying to figure out how to find someone to do it.

Not that it is hard to find someone. It was choosing.

I thought about our house gardener that we had until July. A neighbor had an outside gardener do his trees and gave me the guy's card. $200 for about the same work. I thought it a bit high.

And then there are the gardeners who work on the complex here.

We were told that they would do our work on the side for a fee.

I have watched them around and like what I see. They do chop a bit more than I would but they are working a cycle and as I can see, the growback is considerable before the next prune so it is OK.

I mulled.

Then the other day the crew was across the street and I went and asked for the boss.

The boss is the youngest and best looking, hot, man in the group. Big smile.

He came over and we discussed the whole setup for us. Our Palo Verde tree and California Oleander. Both old. We looked at "their" bushes which are outside the wall. Several low bushes, a nice old big trunk hibiscus that is just coming back from a severe prune last year. A wonderful Mexican Firebird and a tree with red blossoms. The only one of its kind in the complex he says and we don't know its name. A beauty. Constant red petals all over.

We also looked at the blank space out back between "our" swath of grass and the street.

We don't mind the street. It is just that there is a considerable break in the oleanders there and we don't want less than any others.

Well, first he told me that we don't have to pay for the bushes to fill as I offered. He is going to be doing that area in 3-4 weeks and will fill in there from HOA stock.

We set a date for the prune.

I was already glad I had chosen to use him. We have a bond. He is getting paid to do the courtyard and it helps make him attentive to the outside.

That was proven today when they showed up half an hour early to do all the bushes and trees in front of our place. Ours and "theirs". Actually the "theirs" are 1/146th ours.

They did a great job. It is very light out there now. The shade is gone which is good for the winter sun to the south of us.

It does look quite naked but that is the point. We will have a lush hazy sun when the new branches return over the next 6 months.

They hauled the prunings away. We are as good as new and I have a new helper. I told him I would see him "next year" and do it again.

I got the big smile.

Oh. He quoted me $80. Much more like it. It took about an hour. He did pretty well and so did I against the other guy who wanted 2.5 as much.

Labels: condo, gardening