Southwest Home and Garden Thread - Page 13

PHX31 · #**241** Posted: **May 8, 2012, 10:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

But nickw252 lives in Encanto Palmcroft and wishes that he had it. Meanwhile, Nick says that some folks in Willo have it, yet we don't and I haven't seen it.

For reasons that may be completely wrong, I have always associated flood irrigation with SRP areas, which this is not.

It is SRP that provides the flood irrigation. I don't think it's as cut and dry as an entire neighborhood has it. It is more random and scattered, that's why I was wondering where/why exactly it is available.

EDIT: This might help a little bit... it shows a map of the areas that flood irrigation is available in the metro area. Then it says that the irrigation pipes and such on site (or to a home) are the responsibility of the homeowner. So it seems like back in the day random people or random developers of larger parts of neighborhoods chose to put in flood irrigation, whereas SRP just supplied it in a general area. I guess you could put it in yourself now-adays, but it would probably cost a lot.

http://phoenix.about.com/od/desertpl...irrigation.htm

I walked around E-Palmcroft a few weeks ago with my dogs and saw several houses flooded. The older house (that is now a church) on the west side of 7th Ave and Thomas I work next to has flood irrigation... that's basically north encanto/encanto palmcroft.

HooverDam · #**242** Posted: **Jul 30, 2012, 10:32 PM**

So I've got a backyard BBQ coming up and the lighting in my backyard isn't the best. I have some of those paper chinese lantern thingies, that'll help, but the question arises: where to string them up? I could of course go get some string and stakes and all of that ,but then I realized since I'm in an older home I have the utility/cable wires running from the alley to the house.

Can I hang paper lanterns from the utility wires? I know I won't shock myself. But I guess I'm wondering if I'll be breaking a law or running into any other potential risks.

combusean · #**243** Posted: **Jul 30, 2012, 11:21 PM**

Please don't touch utility wires. Photos would help.

PHX31 · #**244** Posted: **Jul 30, 2012, 11:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HooverDam

So I've got a backyard BBQ coming up and the lighting in my backyard isn't the best. I have some of those paper chinese lantern thingies, that'll help, but the question arises: where to string them up? I could of course go get some string and stakes and all of that ,but then I realized since I'm in an older home I have the utility/cable wires running from the alley to the house.

Can I hang paper lanterns from the utility wires? I know I won't shock myself. But I guess I'm wondering if I'll be breaking a law or running into any other potential risks.

Your utility lines above your backyard going to your house run on a support/guy wire. So I would think you could string up some lanterns to this and be OK. However, I don't know how much weight they can actually support and how much the lanterns weigh.

nickw252 · #**245** Posted: **Aug 2, 2012, 7:57 PM**

Does anyone know what kind of tree this droopy looking thing is? It looks similar to a sissoo but the bark is smoother and its leaves are more pointy.

PHX31 · #**246** Posted: **Aug 2, 2012, 9:41 PM**

/\ Australian bottle

http://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/a...ttle-tree.html

pbenjamin · #**247** Posted: **Aug 3, 2012, 1:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX31

/\ Australian bottle

http://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/a...ttle-tree.html

One of the most obnoxious messy things that you could ever plant.

HX_Guy · #**248** Posted: **Aug 3, 2012, 1:16 AM**

Yea, I hate those tree. Can't stand those black pods that fall out of them, and they don't grow very nice...pretty tall narrow canopy. There are a lot better choices out there.

nickw252 · #**249** Posted: **Aug 3, 2012, 3:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX31

/\ Australian bottle

http://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/a...ttle-tree.html

Thanks, I wanted to know the name so i can be absolutely sure to never plant one in my yard.

HX_Guy · #**250** Posted: **Aug 4, 2012, 1:06 AM**

So I'm looking to do a security system at our house and this is the plan I've come up with (actually came up with three, but chose this one).

All entry doors into house have a contact sensor. Motion in office, two motions in living/kitchen. Contacts on all window shutters in master bedroom and bedroom 3 & bedroom 2. Contact on bedroom 1 & motion sensor since there is no shutter on the window.

D = Door contact sensor
W = Window contact sensor
M = Motion sensor

The goal here is to be alerted of a break in when we are not home and also for safety when we are home sleeping. We would active the motions at night. There are no pets or kids in the house. Will also add a monitored smoke alarm and also a panic button.

I know, seems a bit paranoid, but my wife really wants to do it and it's sort of one of those things that if something happens, it's like "Why the heck didn't we do that security system?" Sort of like not having health insurance or a back up on your computer.

dtnphx · #**251** Posted: **Aug 6, 2012, 3:48 PM**

You do realize that several well placed motion sensors eliminates the need of wiring every window. They have to move about when they get inside, so save some money.

exit2lef · #**252** Posted: **Aug 6, 2012, 4:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtnphx

You do realize that several well placed motion sensors eliminates the need of wiring every window. They have to move about when they get inside, so save some money.

That's true when the alarm is in the "away" setting, but having each window wired offers some protection against unauthorized entry in the "stay," setting -- the setting many people use when they're asleep at night.

phxSUNSfan · #**253** Posted: **Jan 24, 2013, 8:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

It would probably be a bad time to mention I am in the process of buying a new home on the fringes huh?

To be fair not everyone can afford the property values in the Central City unless it is a fixer upper. Phoenix needs to attract higher paying jobs in order to grow an urban population. Rents in downtown/historic districts/Central Ave. are much higher than in most suburbs and the fringes. What a one bedroom costs in downtown (in a newer building) could afford someone a 2 or 3 bedroom in a new "luxury" rental in places like Surprise, Avondale, etc...

PHX31 · #**254** Posted: **Jan 24, 2013, 2:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

It would probably be a bad time to mention I am in the process of buying a new home on the fringes huh?

What part? And didn't you just redo your bathroom?

HX_Guy · #**255** Posted: **Jan 24, 2013, 4:21 PM**

We did just redo the bathroom in March and hopefully we'll see that money recouped when we sell. The house we're in now was never a long term house in our minds, more of a starter home but with prices starting to go back up again and interest rates so low, we figured if we're ever going to move, now is probably a good time to get that long term house.

alexico · #**256** Posted: **Jan 26, 2013, 11:41 PM**

my place looks great inside but the patio which I never really use looks like an eye sore. well it is an eyesore. when I lived at another high rise condo it was already plush with plants I just needed to maintain the patio

here is what I have now

4 feet deep and maybe 14-16 feet long

the rain today made it look gross but I've never washed it etc

not sure how to make it into something. or what type of plants/green one would put out there. those ugly tables were just left when I moved in. of course they will go

alexico · #**257** Posted: **Jan 26, 2013, 11:58 PM**

there was a unit at the optima that had fake grass. not the really cheap putting green stuff etc and I thought it was cool

throwing this out there....

fake grass to cover the patio and leave a spot for pots for plants

I typically do not see myself actually eating out there etc. more for appearance/looks

HooverDam · #**258** Posted: **Jan 27, 2013, 2:34 AM**

Elephant food plant is a good, easy to care for succulent. It doesnt mind too much water or too little, its tough in heat and cold. Very much a 'set it and forget it' kinda plant. It can grow vertically or as a ground cover.

http://www.google.com/search?client=...CdGWqAHupICYDg

HX_Guy · #**259** Posted: **Jan 29, 2013, 6:11 PM**

Well, we went ahead and purchased the new home, pretty excited about it.

The previous home, my wife (at the time girlfriend) was already living there so I never had the experience to do the whole house searching thing (love that kind of stuff, watch all those house hunter shows on HGTV). Plus it's awesome to get to choose different structural options that fit our lifestyle.

This is our lot now, can't wait until the house starts going up, I'll probably drive by daily to see the progress.

gymratmanaz · #**260** Posted: **Jan 29, 2013, 6:59 PM**

AWESOME!!!!!! Where is it located?