The conditions in the back garden are very different from the conditions in the front. The front gets bright, full sun, and for the most part, it's able to stand there without much interference. The back garden has to tolerate deep dark shade followed by blasts of the harsh, late afternoon sun. It has to go head-to-head with the miles of heavy shrub and tree roots. It also has to tolerate soccer ball kicks and Wiffle ball games and basketball bounces. Quite frankly, you've got to be tough (and flexible) to survive in the back garden.
A few things were already here when we moved in: a large deciduous azalea, a very sour cherry tree, two blueberry bushes, a crazy-huge ill-placed hydrangea, and a big red rhodie. But that's it. Everything else was bare to the bone.
Oh, and there was this sedum on the rock wall, too.
My ideas for this garden finally came together last spring when a landscaping company was giving away dozens of free boxwoods. I loaded up my car up with as many as I could and I hoped that the boxwoods would give me some direction. (Remember this post? Holy cow, has this garden come a long way!) I started making my curve around the yard and slowly but surely, I made it all the way around.
I added some lady's mantle, some hostas, a bridal veil Spirea, Solomon's Seal, ferns, Japanese grasses, dwarf willows, and astilbes. I still have a lot of fence to cover, however.
The plan was to keep things natural and woodland-y but also add a bit of structure. I had to leave a big space to play and lounge about, too. Soon enough, the hammock and the sun umbrellas will be set up here but for now, I get to enjoy it just like this.
And, look, here's the edge of the patio we built last summer and how it looks in the garden:
Alright, that's all I have for now. Thanks for joining me on the tour!
