Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Rock Solid!


The other day while I was at a local rock and stone center ordering materials for our backyard makeover project (stay tuned for an upcoming post!), I spotted a 'boulder' that I thought would be perfect for my yard. I've never had a really large rock to create a 'naturalistic' look, so when I spotted 'the one', I asked how much it cost. The owner there said it was 20 cents per pound, and he estimated the stone was about 125 pounds. I was ok with that-and could spare $26 for a small 'boulder'. It was the largest I could imagine getting into the truck and getting unloaded and managing to maneuver to its final resting place in my yard.

So, 2 guys attempted to move it from the ground it was embedded in. It must have been there for years, because it was stuck there as part of the landscape. It turned out that the guys couldn't move it by hand, so they used a forklift. I weighed my vehicle then waited for what seemed like an eternity for them to find a way to get this monster into the back of my truck. What a project that turned out to be. There was just no way they could lift it off the forklift prongs, so they had to maneuver the thing directly into the truck itself. There I am watching as this machine enters the back of my truck, wondering if it'll find it's way out without my next stop having to be the vehicle repair shop!

After the rock was safely in the back of my truck I weighed the vehicle. The guy who gave me the estimate was more surprised than I was when it weighed in at over 300 pounds! At 20 cents per pound, I could still afford it-but it was 3 times as heavy as he had thought. Here it is in all its glory:



I had originally thought I'd have it placed in the backyard, but because of its weight, the only solution was to back the truck up as close as possible to the garden at the top of the driveway -and dump it - but it couldn't be dumped! 4 guys had to push and pull until it landed in the garden. And where it landed is where it stayed!
I added some more rocks that I dug up from the ground while gardening, surrounded it with mulch, and now I have a rock garden!
Oh, I almost forgot: Remember the lilac bushes at the top of this post? Here's one of them, tucked in behind the rock. What do you think?!

--Today I am thankful for the strong muscles provided to move my boulder;-)

47 comments:

  1. I love using stones. My neighbor's have them everywhere in their garden. Some up to 1000lbs. They used them in problem areas where they were unable to grow things. You would never know this unless they pointed it out

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  2. Jan, it looks great. I have to be content with the smallish ones I can carry. I group them together to get the effect of a larger mass;) The lilac look perfect behind it. It already looks like it's been their a long time.
    Marnie

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  3. Good Gracious! I couldn't imagine tackling something like that. I could when I was younger, but not anymore.--Randy

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  4. I think it landed in the exact perfect spot!! It looks great and the lilac behind it is perfect too.

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  5. I love it and think rocks make excellent focal points. It sounds like you didn't just get a rock for your money, you got an ADVENTURE! :)

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  6. Gosh what a weight! Although not the same it is possible to make false bolders with Hypertufa peat/sand/cement poured into a container not sure the ratio. Not quite as heavy as rock and certainly not as expensive. just in case you decide to go ahead with something similar in the back.

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  7. Love it! The large rock looks great in your garden along with the Lilac
    bush.

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  8. I was picturing all of this taking place :) I'm glad the truck survived! I think it looks really nice and the lilac looks great. I've been wishing we could get a nice sized boulder for our backyard too, but just could never figure out how we would get it there.

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  9. Lucky your truck was up to the job - and you had some muscle to get the rock back out again!
    Now it's in place it looks good and the Lilac looks very at home behind it.

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  10. how cool Jan! I like the rock, it is great! Wise decision. Good looking lilac too. ;-)

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  11. I'm always amazed at how expensive rocks are. That one is certainly pretty and you placed it in the perfect spot. It looks great.

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  12. The Lilac looks perfect behind the rock. The azaleas are gorgeous too!

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  13. It looks great...and so do the lilacs. :) Are those azaleas in bloom in that flaming red-pink? Gorgeous!

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  14. Most amusing story Jan and the result look great!

    Heavy stuff

    Tyra

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  15. Hi Jan, great find on the stone and the funny story of how it came to be...see, perfect spot! Your walkway is so nice flanked by all that color :)

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  16. That is a beautiful boulder(-: I love rocks too. Every kind!
    I went to the feed store to get some chicken starter today and when the guy loaded it into my car he said oh your rocks are really cool. I had forgot I had them in there!! LOL I am always stopping to pick up rocks.(-:
    Your setting is just gorgeous the way you have is set up! I love it!!!!
    CiNdEeS' GaRdEn

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  17. the boulder is beautiful...and when the plants and flowers fill in around it...it will be all the more beautiful.
    enjoyed your post.
    have a wonderful wednesday!

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  18. Great choice of rock...very well suited.

    I think it must have been meant for that spot :)

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  19. I love. love, love that rock and how nice it looks in your landscape. I can't wait to see how the backyard remodel goes. I love before and afters.

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  20. Wow it doesn't look like it weighs that much! I really love how you've placed it. It all looks so beautiful! Love the Lilac there too!

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  21. Hi Jan, I like the arrangement. Very neat! You can sit on it to take a rest after working on your garden :-)

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  22. It looks great!...nothing like a good rock to give a garden character. :-)

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  23. Great job! I love your new rock. For me stones and the garden are a package deal.Thank goodness I don't have to pay for mine.

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  24. Well done! I's say it looks just fine where it landed and awith your other rocks and plantings makes for a very nice feature garden.

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  25. Your rock looks perfect right where it landed! I've been wanting a rock for years, and I'm still kicking myself over the one I missed. Saw a little farm by our alma mater one day with boulders for sale. Stop! I said to hubby, I want a boulder! His answer was that we were on vacation, with no room for boulders and luggage together. I keep thinking about how I wish I could have a boulder from my old college town. Silly, right?

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  26. It looks great Jan, like it always has had a home there! The Lilac makes a nice addition to this area as well. :) That's a great price, maybe I should look into adding some small boulders to my garden.

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  27. I think it's charming. I love big boulders. I'm impressed you found four guys to maneuver it into place. Well done.~~Dee

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  28. Jan it adds just the right touch to your bed. Your lilac looks right at home there with a woodland effect with the azealas. Lovely indeed. We will be watching for the back yard makeover pictures.

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  29. It's gorgeous Jan ~ I can see why you liked it. I wouldn't call it a rock tho ~ it's definitely more on the scale of a boulder! Good job getting it home and unloaded. Seems like it landed perfectly to me because it looks beautiful positioned where it is.

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  30. BEAUTIFUL!! I love this rock! Really neat form! I can see why it had to be in your garden. The lilac looks lovely escounced behind it !

    Happy Gardening!

    >^,,^<

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  31. That must have taken a lot of work.
    The large rock sets off your garden plants beautifully.
    Love that last pic !

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  32. Where there's a will there's a way.

    I guess you'll have to fathom a way to get one around the back.

    I love the Lilac by the way

    Rob

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  33. You did an awesome job, Jan. I appreciate your perseverance. I've seen many people giving up on things when they think that it's too heavy or too difficult to get their purchase into their home, but the fact that you didn't shows your passion.
    Backyard makeover project? Sounds cool... Waiting for the updates.

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  34. I love rocks in the garden. You have a lovely garden, Jan. See you around.

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  35. I think it looks great!!!
    Katarina

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  36. Beautiful! I hope you'll post photos when everything around it has grown a bit and the lines merge. I love using rock in the garden so I suppose I should be thankful that I have gardenful of them. Our property is naturally rocky. In some places the soil depth is just a couple of inches before the rocks appear.

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  37. Thanks for the laugh! Isn't that the way with gardening, not always knowing what to expect?

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  38. People without rocks pay money to have them. People with rocks pay money to be without them.

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  39. What a project! But worth all the effort!

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  40. Hi Jan~
    What a great story! I'm glad you were able to place it in the garden after all that work of loading it in the truck. It looks lovely! And so does the lilac! Lilacs are just stunning. Can't wait to see the makeover pictures.

    Happy gardening~ Karrita

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  41. Love your boulder. It's a wonderful addition to your lovely gardens. Great story.

    FlowerLady

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  42. I am a real rock lover! So I do indeed love it. Right where it sits!
    Brenda

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  43. Happy Mother's Day, all! May your gardens be rich and your hearts be full!

    >^,,^<

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  44. Wow, I would not have been so brave to put that big thing in my truck! But it is a beautiful rock and looks like it was meant for that spot!

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  45. It looks wonderful. Isn't it amazing when they are so much heavier than you might think? Happy Spring!!!

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  46. I think the rock looks good, however it sounds like luck the lilac was behind and not under it! (LOL)

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Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment! Please enjoy your TODAY and all of the gifts in YOUR garden of life!

Jan

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