Justin & I spent a scorching day at Del Valle Lake today, our first of what I expect to be many visits there. There are miles of calm water, lots of nice swimming spots, a rope swing, and a 10mph speed limit that keeps most motor boats away. There were several herds of deer frolicking on the banks, and we also spotted cormorants, egrets, a heron, a family of wild turkeys, and a very somber-looking treeful of vultures.
On the home front, I’m in the process of taking most of the vegetable beds out of the front yard, and converting the space to fruit trees and perennials. I’m leaving the asparagus bed, but the other veggie beds have been dismantled. I put in 2 new avocado trees and this winter I’ll add a couple more almonds and a nectarine. These will be surrounded by lavender/rosemary borders and interspersed with artichokes. It should be much lower-maintenance when it’s finished, and with veggie beds only in the back yard I might just be able to keep up with the weeding.
