I took the lessons learned from setting up the shade cloth in the backyard and applied them to my side yard.
My shade cloth set up was looking sloppy. I was using two rolls of tan shade cloth stapled together, but 80% of one of the rolls was just rolled around a metal conduit. Then I had some black shade cloth stapled to the tan cloth to give more shade. It was 'good enough' for some good shade, but it didn't look as good as it could be.
I started by removing the black shade cloth. I then unfurled the rolled up tan shade cloth, and doubled it up with the first layer, creating a double layer of shade cloth. I then attached the double layer of shade cloth to the metal conduit and tied the other end to the house.
This created a neater, cleaner looking shade area without all the previous drooping. Most importantly this did not sacrifice any of the all important shade.
I was able to then use the now freed black shade cloth in the backyard. Aaron's patch now has extra shade, avoiding sun scorch.
The crabapples are all growing very well. I've taken a few of them and have planted them in smaller bonsai pots.
Adenium arabicum seeds arrived over the weekend. Aaron and I planted them up in the backyard. It's now a hurry up and wait game. Hopefully they'll be sprouting soon.
Most of my items from last year are now gone. I have some more that just came out of the kiln and more waiting to be picked up. Busy busy!