Ever since we had the additional steps put in, Jason and I have been planting like crazy, trying to get our backyard full of color and to help hold the hillside together when it rains!!
Jack used to be my big helper but he seems to have passed the torch to his younger brother. Wyatt loves to be outside and "help" us. Of course, I'm sure that will change, too, when he gets a bit older and has lots of friends to play with.
These photos are not in any order (not sure why they download so randomly but it's a pain to drag and move them, as they don't always go where I want them too).
At the bottom of the terrace, between the two new sets of steps, we put in a boarder of day lilies and a little blue plant that has the same sort of leaf. I can't wait for it to get bigger and fuller over the years!!
This is our row of tulips from earlier this spring. We have a few more coming up still but most are dying off. It was a beautiful boarder.
We decided we had too many river rocks used around the new stepping stones and that it took away from the look of the dry river bed, so we removed most and replaced with a low growing Red Creeping Thyme plant that is made for walkways, as it tolerates being stepped on (perfect for little boys who can't stay on a path). It's so much prettier and smells fabulous!
Another view of the tulip boarder.
I can't remember what these plants are but we loved the burst of color on them. This is what happens when Jason goes to the nursery for soil - he comes back with bags of bulbs and random plants that caught his eye. For those of you who knew up back in our Federal Way, WA home - we've come a long way, haven't we???
This is the colorful planter at the bottom of the first set of steps.
Wyatt is helping Daddy plant a row of lavender plants along the middle of the hillside (a difficult task that ended up in a row of plants going slightly up the hill instead of straight across).
This is the original planter we had from when we first had the backyard done. But once we added the steps here we got a bit more of a planter so we added two little red lavender plants along with a pink and yellow Mary Ann Lantana at the very top.
Another view of our new stepping stones extended all the way to the patio with the thyme.
This is the line of lavender looking down towards the patio.
Behind the lavender, looking towards the patio, is another small red lavender. Then at the top of the steps are a row of Paprika Common Yarrow and Galaxy Coreopis.
A wider view of the backyard.
We planted two plum trees earlier and just went back and planted a bunch of bulbs - I think Jason is obsessed with bulbs!
Amber keeping him company!
Even Ethan came out to keep us company. Of course, he preferred to just throw the rocks!
Another couple bags of bulbs are going where the wheelbarrow is sitting, but we ran out of soil.
Wyatt on top of Lizard Rock!
Our other major purchase was this Weeping Flowering Cherry tree. This side of the yard is so barren compared to the other side, so we're working on adding some color here. We added a bunch of summer bulbs right below where the deer is standing too.
A close up of the tree.
I can't wait for next spring so we can enjoy a full season of it's blooms.
Jason working hard to add more bulbs. I think he finally has bulbs in every part of the yard that will bloom during each season.
Here are our two plum trees. I think at some point I might add a little bench in here somewhere so I can enjoy another spot to sit and admire the yard while watching the boys play in the yard. The best part about this side is that I can see the driveway and the cul-de-sac from here.
I love this view looking down towards the fence and the plum trees. It will look much better when we get more pinestraw for the hillside and mulch for the planting beds and a more defined looking walkway. Then we'll be on to the front yard...no rest for the wicked!
Comments