Backyard Landscaping: As Good as it Gets Spring 2013

After dividing and transplanting perennials like crazy and spreading fifteen cubic yards of bark, the backyard is about as good as it's going to get this spring.  Here is the view from the west side of the front yard through the gate into the back.  Come take a tour of the newly completed (well, mostly) project.



First we'll see a couple of views from the upper floor windows.  For before-the-project photos of this view, see my previous post here.  This shot shows the northwest corner of the backyard.  It still needs six more 'Invincibelle Spirit' hydrangeas and a bunch of beautiful blue hostas.  I should be able to find and plant the hydrangeas soon, but the hostas will have to wait until the trees fill out and provide more shade.



Here is a view of the northeast corner with my daughter enjoying the new swing set.  You can swing really high.  The structure dwarfs my little honey locust trees, but it will look better in a few years when the trees outgrow it and the surrounding shrubs fill in.



Here is the view from just inside the west gate looking north. 



If you pivot to the right a little, you can see the northeast corner from ground level.  That corner looks very empty because I still need to buy and plant six 'Little Lime' hydrangeas over there.  The contorted filbert in the center of the photo will eventually grow to obscure the view.  This will provide a sense of mystery because you won't be able to see everything at once.  Supposedly that will make you want to keep walking . . . .



Here is the view if you walk to the northwest corner and look east.  Lots of little shrubs and perennials waiting to fill in. 



If you get to the northeast corner behind the swing set and turn back, here is the view of the northwest corner. 




And here is the view from the northeast corner looking south. 



If you take a few steps toward the south and then turn right, here is another view of the northwest corner and the main sunny garden. 




A few steps farther and a glance backward will show you this view.  Eventually the 'Shasta' doublefile viburnum should fill the entire corner. 



Here is the view of the path that extends down the east side of the home.  The white garden surrounds the intersection of the two paths.  The Adirondack chairs have the best view of the main sunny garden.



If you sit in one of the chairs, here is the view.  Not very impressive until the perennials and shrubs fill in.  I'm unsure if my 'William Shakespeare 2000' english roses - planted smack dab in the center - are ever going to recover from transplant shock and put out any more leaves.  Thankfully you can't see their sickly stickly forms clearly from this far away.



Walking down the east path gives this view.  The columnar 'Green Tower' boxwood marks the transition between the white garden and the true blue/lavender/mauve/lime garden.  Can you tell I love these GT shrubs? 



Here is the view if you walk all the way south to the southeast corner of the fence and turn back.  There are lots of perennials that should fill in eventually so that little to no bark is visible.  In a couple of years, of course.



And here's one last view from the patio looking toward the east.  The fountain is empty because my toddler likes to dump it over and I've given up on refilling it this summer.  My urns on the patio are still waiting to be planted, and I haven't even started planting bits of groundcover into the cracks between the flagstone.  All in good time.  Even though there is plenty of planting and growing still to do, it's fun to see the big changes that have been accomplished within the past month.  Check out the past few posts to see the process.