No, its on a level part. The terraces are actually in front of this area if you look from the street or behind it if you look from the house. At least some front yard terraced beds are. I also have a four terraced thing in my backyard but that is all planted because I have had that area for afew years. I do really love my garden and will take pictures to post once things start growing again and blooming around here. I just ordered some new Siberian Iris this afternoon for that front yard semi-circle that I have planned.

Hi. I'm on the Mississippi Coast. About 20 miles east of Slidell. Lived in NO for years. It's been years since I've been to Bantings. Just don't get down that way. You might try American Aquatic Gardens or is it Louisiana Aquatic Gardens on Elysian Field, mabe 3 or 4 blocks off the river. In many ways like Perino's only smaller and geared more toward water gardens. Not extensive, but they sometimes have some interesting stuff. I've seen great selections of Louisiana Irises there. Also a nursery up in Lacombe (Forgot the name. On US 190, Left side of the road, for you, maybe two miles from the bayou. They have what I consider a pretty extensive selection. A lot of regular stff. But if you weed through it. There is some interesting stuff. Especiall if you get in the back. Away from the impatients etc. If you haven't. You might want to check out the Cosby Arb. over in Picayune. Every 3 months or so they have a plant sale. A great place for natives. As native azelias etc. But you have to get there as early as you can. It can get picked over pretty quick. Otherwise there are a lot of small places Like Rain Tree in Pass Christian that routinely have a few gems mixed in with the pansies, marigold etc. (They got me a Russelia eq. and I found a scarlet flame, and some interesting bromiliads there. And a place north of I-10 that specializes in day lilies. I have a thing for gingers (butterfly and curcuma). And have not found a reliable good selection locally. But believe it or not found some interesting stuff on ebay. Also found a mexican sago palm and coontie seeds there. Regardless, it is fun hunting for interesting and unusual plants. Happy hunting.

Kay - Iris are gorgeous, no doubt, but they always seem to have some issue in my garden - at least the bearded ones. The Siberians aren't bothered by the borers, but they do grow thick and matted, and it takes a lot of strength to dig and separate them. I'll leave some of them in place because they are so beautiful, but I'm moving the German bearded out, I think. Echinacea (if that's the coneflower you mean) I'm growing as a crop for tincture and tea, but also have been doing selective breeding to see what forms and colors I can get from seed acquired here on GW - specifically Harvest Moon and Cheyenne Spirit. The various offspring have been pretty, but when they're not anything special, I pull them up for herbal use - a win-win scenario. :) Wish I could grow jasmine here, and the buddleya as well. I've started it (the buddleya) about 3 different times over the years, but it eventually gets winter killed. We're Zone 5a, so there are many things sort of "iffy" here. I could grow it in a pot and haul it in and out of the greenhouse every year, but what a pain that would be! Yep, I think the daylilies have got me. Pretty hardy, pretty looking!, pretty easy to hybridize and grow. Oh yeah. Alex

Sabbath you have done much more than me! Your trip looks amazing. Where is the art festival? I really want to go! I arrived at 130 AM on Tuesday. My room (exec. Suite) was substandard. I told the hotel to move me to a cheaper room and I would check out the next AM. I wasnt going to pay the high rates for the room - stains, banged up furniture, crumbs. The room was above the hotel mechanical equipment and very loud!! My father also paid for the executive suite and not pleased. At 2 Am, tHey moved me to a nicer smaller room, which I was happy with, but it was lower level, next to the road. I got no sleep. Luckily, my presentation went great despite being sleep deprived. The hotel then moved my parents to a nicer suite. and they moved me a tiny room on the 12th floor. There is a loud constant hum from some mechanical equipment, but overall much quieter and an improvement. It turned out my close friend was at the same conference so we had lunch at Couchon - a small cafe. The food was amazing! We all got together for a great dinner somewhere on bourbon street...cant remember the name. Yesterday, I just walked around the French quarter. We had breakfast at Brennan’s. Highly recommend! The strawberries and cream was divine!!! Later, we went to magazine street as my stepmo. Wanted some linens. I have been trying to get my father to use uber, but he refuses saying the drivers arent vetted. He let me order one to return to the hotel from Magazine street. I ordered uberX. I thought uberX was the larger nicer one, but I was wrong. We got a filthy Toyota Sienna. One of the seats broke as my father leaned against it. The man who drove it had a long white beard down to his waist. THe next thing I know he and my father are in a heated political argument, screaming at each other! I’ve never seen my father so angry! The driver wasnt quite right in the head. He mentioned his mother’s computer getting hacked and that he called the Russian embassy and told them he had killed 47 Russians. He was totally nuts! And it proved my father’s point! Every uber I have taken to this point has had nice polite drivers and clean cars. Just figures! Last night we had dinner at Arnauds on Bourbon street. I DO NOT recommend it! It was terrible!!! Food was cold! My gumbo was bland. Out of five of us, only the person who ordered the filet mignon was happy with the food. But her cappuccino looked odd and she said it didnt taste right. THe meal also took far too long and I was so happy to leave. We are not doing the plantation tour. None of us has the patience for a 1.5 hour drive and a 3 hour tour. We opted against the swamp tour for these same reasons. My father did hire a car to drive us around to look at mansions today. All I can say is that I am totally in love with NO. I had not expected to like it so much. I think I will be returning very soon. I love just walking around the French Quarter watching the street performers, popping into the shops and galleries. For breakfast, we are meeting at another cafe, known for their hickory coffee. I’ll get the name later.