Here are some pictures of the backyard garden I call the terraces garden taken yesterday, after I finially got all the annuals in.

{{gwi:622903}}

{{gwi:622905}}

{{gwi:622907}}

{{gwi:622909}}

This last shot is a closeup of the third terrace were I have a long triple row of lily bulbs planted. I planted them last year and it was smashing in bloom. I can't wait for them to bloom again this year.

There's lots of inspiration to be taken from Rita's Garden. She dealt with steep slopes in a careful plan to get the most growing space. The pond is a great point of interest. The grass paths are perfect. This garden is friendly to wildlife.

I remember last year's blooms; they were wonderful. Thanks, Rita, for sharing your garden.

Nell

Thanks, Nell.

I have hills and slopes all over the property. Not many people have to go upstairs to get to part of their backyard. I did some terraces up there too.

{{gwi:622911}}

This shows the area in back of my garage, where again, I had to level areas to work with. It also shows part of the daylily bed I call the plateau.

{{gwi:622913}}

Then there is the newest daylily/lily bed in the front yard I call the planterbox. I had the hardscape done last fall when I put the 300 gallon stocktank in ground as a pond.

{{gwi:622914}}
A longer shot view of the sideyard looking towards the pond.

What a gorgeous start to the season. I remember the first pics of the terraces. It is really looking great. I would love to have a stock tank like that but alas no room. Can you tell me the exact honeysuckle that you are growing? I really love it. I have a coral one and would love the yellow. Thank you for posting such lovely pics. c

That Yellow trumpet one pictured is John Clayton. I have many others, including Blanche Sandman, Major Wheeler and many others.

I had wanted a stocktank pond foryears but never thought I could make it fit. But last spring I finially found one with the dementions that I wanted. Its a 300 gallon black pollyturf Freeland Stocktank 4 feet wide by 7 feet long.

I had to move some shrubs from that area and then angle it so that it fit in there. Then I got 3 pallets of stones to have the edges done and that rock wall going off to the side.

That little flower area (with the grey bricks) is something I am just doing now in the past few days. I put annuals in there for this year of impatients and cosmos. Marigolds and Milkweeds still to plant. Its not finished yet.

I like slope/hill plantings. It gives you a lot more to view (of course, I know it's a lot more trouble to plant and maintain).

Cameron

Rita, you have put some serious thought and planning and work into your garden and it shows! I love all of it. Can you show the stock tank pond close up. I am wondering if it is a lot of work. What do you do over winter, mosquitoes, etc.

I will have a large hole in the front yard when I take the tree out. I am just playing with the idea of a pond...........if it isn't too much work to take care of. I saw one once with a Japanese maple hanging over one end and it was really pretty.

I like the John Clayton. I have never seen an all yellow one.

I am looking forward to more pictures of your unique garden as the season progresses.

Thank you rita...you could almost swim in that big of a tank !! Do you have fish? I love koi but they might freeze up there where you are. I used to have a 50 gal pond but someone sprayed in their yard near me and all 7 of my baby koi died. This was 3 yrs ago on Labor Day weekend. I was heartbroken and filled the area. May try again....c

{{gwi:622916}}

Closeup of the pond.

Yes, there are some Rosey Red Minnows in there, one Koi and Two Shubunkin. All overwintered in the unheated pond. Didn't do anything overwinter except cleaned out any leaves fell in twice during the winter. No mosquitoes as fish eat them.

I have a Freeland 300 gallon poly turf black stocktank. Its 4 by 7 feet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Freeland Stock Tanks

Rita, I love your beds and borders. So packed full of colorful plants.

Your roses are beautiful and I am so envious. My roses are in full bud, but no blooms yet.

I can also appreciate your fondness for flowering shrubs.

It amazes me how much more flowering is going on in your garden right now considering that we are only 1/2 to a full zone apart. I have many of the same plants and they won't be ready for at least another two weeks.

I can also appreciate gardening on a property that slopes as we slope down to the road in front of the house, down to the woods in the rear, and down to the neighbors property line on one side. The house sits smack dead at the top of a hill.

I remember seeing your photos last year as your retaining wall beds were being developed. They are nothing short of outstanding and you should be very pleased.

Looking forward to summer and continued views of your gardens.

Liz

Thanks for the close-up of the pond. I really think it is a beautiful feature. It sounds pretty low-maintenance so I am still considering one. It is just in a strange location but that might not matter. I have probably got the stock tank and know I have the flat rocks.

{{gwi:622918}}

Here's a picture of a very old Weigelia shrub that has been here for at least 60 years. The flowers open pink and turn white as they age.

It's funny what one notices in photos. Automatically I realized you are using Pennsylvania Fieldstone - simply because I use it too.

Those terraces have really just filled in so nicely, Rita! I remember when you first showed us photos!!

I went and picked out that stone myself at the stone place. They had so many different kinds but thats the one I really like.

The terraces gardens I worked on some again this spring. Put annuals in as I did last year on the first terrance and those nasturtiums again on terrace three. They grow and spill down the wall and it looks so pretty. I also had to re-order and plant new hummingbird mints in that terrace because last years died overwinter. My fault really as I put lots of leaves over them in the fall as mulch and those packed down wet leaves kept them wet overwinter which is a no no. They need excellent drainage. Will not be doing that again.

Then I had to dig up and move all the last row of daylilies in terrace two, the ones up against the wall that the nasturtiums hang down. It really was poor planning on my part as I didn't think of the obvious, which is that they shaded that last row of daylilies. So I filled in more of the middle section in that terrace mostly with the moved plants.