Friday, November 14, 2014

Disaster, adverted


It's 2006 and, sod removed, you planted your front garden. The plants were small but they grew and grew and finally the garden began to look just as you dreamed it would. And then (about 3 years in) the crazy zonal-denial-dream that you and all of your neighbors were living burst.

The plants are dead.

But hey, that was just a fluke, you replant.

And the next winter it happens again. You wise up and realize you moved to Portland during a historically long run of warm winters and all the plants you fell in love with, the ones you’ve seen growing all around town, were living on borrowed time. Monster trunking cordylines and blooming phormium are not plants suited for the long term in Portland, Oregon.

Attitude adjustment. You replant the front garden (for the third time) with plants that are indeed going to live long term in your climate (well most of them, there will always be the exceptions). They’re tiny but they will grow, you can picture it, what it will be…

Then 3, almost 4, years later when all those plants are finally looking as you thought they would, almost mature versions of themselves, well…

It’s a Saturday night and you wake up to the sound of water rushing through your pipes and in your foggy state of mind (after all it’s the middle of the night) you can’t quite place it but eventually you realize it sounds like you’re running the water out in the garden. But that can’t be right because it’s the middle of the night, and it’s been raining like Noah’s out there building something, so you’re not watering and what the heck is going on?

(Insert the sound of screeching breaks here…………….)

Yes I’m being a little dramatic. All that is to say the main water line from the street to our house busted, the needle on the water meter was spinning faster than a second hand on an analogue watch, times 10.

And all I could think of were the plants that lay along that line from the water meter to the house. A line I was envisioning dug open, trench-style 2 or 3 ft wide...

Like my gorgeous Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths'...

And the Callistemon ‘Woodlander's Hardy Red’ (I know, you can barely see it what for the overplanted mess...)

Luckily up against the house there wasn't much, a benefit of my keeping the hose (and walking) path clear.

After worrying for a good day and a half the plumbers started showing up to address the problem (oh ya, and we were doing without water, turning the main on at the street long enough each night for quick showers and bucket filling). Sure they could find the leak in the pipe and dig to repair it, but there was also another solution...boring. Boring meant no digging (NO DIGGING!), instead a machine would run a new line to the house under the plants, at least 2 ft down. Since the existing line was something like 65 years old this seemed the obvious answer, it wasn't just about the plants (well, so I tell myself). We scheduled the work, the soonest it could be done was 5 days away, 5 days of no running water. Fun.

The next day the guy showed up to mark the utilities. Seemed like a nice enough fellow, but I've seen how they wield those spray cans, plants don't matter to them. I peeked out the front door and asked "please don't spray the plants"...and he didn't. Look how careful he was...

Just a little dot, nothing crazy.

Well, sort of. But at least it's not on the plants!

I wonder if he's ever tempted to add an artistic flourish?

So that was then, next is the big moment. The ditch-witch arrived and boring is underway.

The guy in the blue works for the plumbing company and the guy in the orange came with the ditch-witch. He was following it's path with an ultrasound-like tool you can't see from this angle. They hit rock at one point (not a surprise) and had to go deeper. Oh and he managed to not step on a single plant...

Here's the new service where it busted through the wall in the basement. That's the old service on the right, they capped it off.

The new pipe takes a jog to the left.

Which according to my eye takes it right under the Arctostaphylos. Fingers crossed it was deep enough to not mess with it's roots.

I didn't see any big tree roots in the hole, so I think the styrax (on the right) is okay. As for that yucca on the left, look how untouched it is! Not even a mashed leaf. Disaster, adverted. And we have running water again. And I thank the powers that be that this happened last week, not this week when it's been at freezing with monster winds...

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

50 comments:

  1. Hooray for boring plumbers! It certainly looks like they did a fine job and managed not to destroy any plants. I've had good luck with licensed plumbers here as well. I wish my mow and blow company was as respectful of my garden as these plumbers were of yours. I sometimes think I might just take over the mowing job myself...

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    1. My lawn is so small it doesn't hardly count but I can't imagine letting anyone else mow it, mainly because I have so many plants I have to bend and lift to mow under! Truth be told I kind of like doing it anyway, with my push mower it's a bit of exercise and kind of meditative.

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  2. So happy they could fix it unobtrusively! Hooray for plumbers with a gentle touch.

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    1. As Andrew pointed out their patch job was a little rough (and don't get me started on how they replaced the water meter surround) but all in all a successful operation.

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  3. Dang, now I got that song in my head... "I want a plumber with an easy touch, I want somebody who will spend some time, not come and go in a heated rush..."

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  4. I'm glad that your disaster was averted! I've been really impressed with the various folks who have been working in my garden as well! There was very little damage of anything during the garage project. Here's to great workers who are respectful of our plants! Sorry that you were out of water for a while! What a headache. Now, when is this crazy cold going to let up?

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    1. Not soon enough it seems. In fact it's just getting worse...(the cold)

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  5. Yay that's great news Loree! Only relatively minor inconvenience in the end. And the workers seems ever so careful and respectful of the plants too, double yay!

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    1. An icky situation that could have been much much worse.

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  6. A water main BEHIND our home burst many years ago and flooded the garden, all my paths, and 4" in the basement. Such a disaster that it cost us $16K in repairs and medical bills (including a mold abatement). I was sick for month and developed asthma for the first time ever. Saying I have sympathy for you is a minor statement. Anytime I see the words "water main break" I still feel like crying and sometimes do when I see the disaster in photograph form. ::HUGS TO YOU:: Glad it got fixed up.

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    1. Oh Shawna, that sounds like a complete nightmare! Wait, that was a complete nightmare, I'm so sorry! One of our neighbors had this same issue and there was a geyser in her front garden. I'm so thankful we caught it early.

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  7. My greatest fear in my garden, not for the water line which comes in from the street in front like yours does, but for the sewer line. Because our lot is on a slope with the street being the highest point, our sewer line runs out the back, I think right under the bamboo. Hopefully boring is available for sewer lines too.

    BTW, those boring machines boggle my mind. I just can't figure out how they steer the things!

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    1. Well...when we bought our house we had the sellers do a sewer scope (on the advice of our realtor) and they found a break. The fix was a big ugly trench and a mound in the front yard that looked like we'd buried Herman Munster out there.

      One of the plumbers who came out to give us bids explained to me how the machine can change direction and/or go up or down. It made sense when he explained it but darn, there's no way I could now.

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  8. I am so relieved this got fixed with a minimum of disruption your garden. My nerves are still sympathy-frazzled for you!

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    1. You know your worrying helped things go better (it always does...).

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  9. That was a nail biting post. And you are sooooo lucky it didn't happen in the last 4 days. I think the Manzanita will be fine. Kudos to those men who worked like surgeons.

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    1. I am, I truly am. Or while we were gone in California for a week!

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  10. What goes on underground should stay underground. That's my motto. Unfortunately it holds no sway with aging infrastructure. We should probably all bookmark this post for future reference.

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  11. So happy to hear this had a happy ending (well, your bank account is probably not happy). All things considered, it could have been a disaster, as you said.

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    1. Thanks Gerhard, and the bank account will recover.

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  12. Could be worse. Imagine if this happened to your sewer line. Yuck! At least I had a whole new area to plant. A word to the wise: if you are going to plant drought-tolerant or -resistant plants, make sure they are not over your sewer line, because they will find water.

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    1. Yes, as I mentioned in my reply to Alan (above) our sewer line was replaced before we bought the house...hopefully this means we'll never have to worry about that one.

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  13. Yikes, that sounds scary but it looks like it is under control, and hopefully no damage to your plants. Is this something that happens often in Portland?

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    1. Well it's happened a lot in our neighborhood. Several neighbors have had the same thing happen. I think it's an age thing. When you guys move out here be sure to ask about the sewer line, main water line and the indoor water piping too (they're telling us that should be replaced). Of course this is all if you buy an older home...

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  14. A very luck y escape Loree!

    It's great to see workmen taking care of someone's garden and not causing any collateral damage. If these guys can do it then why can't others?

    You have taught me a new word this evening and that is "ditch-witch". I love it and it made me chuckle :)

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    1. Did you look it up? The only reason I knew that's what the machine was called is because it was painted on the side!

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  15. Phew. Thank goodness for modern technology, and plant sensitive plumbers!

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  16. Whew! Really, this could have been such a nightmare deeper into the winter. And now you're good for another 65 years... ;>

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    1. Thank goodness, I'll start budgeting now.

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  17. No damage to the Styrax, huh? Those trees are determined.

    Glad it all went so well, relatively speaking.

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    1. Well, one can hope...(damage / styrax ..... ya know...)

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  18. Loree, congrats…the plant goddess was shining down on you guys :)

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    1. I hope I didn't use up all my good plant karma, we've still got a winter to get through.

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  19. There are a lot of really nice people in Portland. Apparently, some of them are plumbers.

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    1. The guy who came out to bid from one of the other companies asked about my plants in the basement, of course that made me want to give him the job!

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  20. Well how fascinating! I always wondered what would happen if the pipes burst between the house and street. Very cool photos, and seriously, what luck! Especially glad for Mr. Manzanita. That would have sucked.

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    1. Hopefully you'll never have to deal with it but if you do, it's good to know!

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  21. I hope the Arctostaphylos does not notice it... It is such a beautiful shrub!! It looks as if they were very careful with the plants.

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    1. I think it helped that I was watching...

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  22. It's bad enough to be facing the arctic blast the weather forecasters keep talking about - I'm sure you could have done without this. I'd have been banging my head against the wall. Thank goodness for innovations in plumbing! I'm glad you garden was unscathed.

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    1. Ya I could do without the arctic blast too, but mother nature always gets the last word doesn't she?

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  23. sandy lawrenceNovember 15, 2014

    Disaster averted is the only kind of disaster to have! So glad your plants were spared of breakage and paint. Good guys on the job.

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  24. Wow, disaster averted. That IS good! Those workers were indeed careful and kind to you. I'm glad your garden will be OK.

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  25. That must have been and exhausting week and no water in the house except for a quick shower. I am please the guys working out there were very careful with your lovely garden. Hoping you are enjoying lots of hot showers now : )

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  26. Hahaha loved this post. I'm glad they were so careful and all of your plants went relatively untouched. Hooray for having water again!

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  27. What a relief! So glad they could fix the problem without tearing up the garden.

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