I really like that suggestion Bboy, and that book sounds like it would be a lot of help in many ways. :) I've been playing with window's paint this morning, we really have a lot to do. This yard was completely leveled last year (all of the dirt pushed to the back of the yard as you see, and all previous landscaping removed. But I do love this stuff, and I wouldn't be happy at all if I had a yard that didn't need work! I already have some clear ideas on the front and sides (the side porch area is my husbands plan, I have no say there) but if anyone see's any glaring mistakes or can offer ideas better than my drawings, I would appreciate the input! I guess I'm putting these up to show the full scope of the yard and how each section relates to another, and specifically, to the back. There are several levels to work with. Lots of concrete, sidewalks, steps, retaining walls in the front (made of stone) many sharp angles. Don't ask me why there is a sidewalk leading from our side porch to the neighbors driveway, but it can't be removed. Not only do we share property with them, but we maintain their yard and it helps to get the mowers across. The yard as it is now: As I would like it to be eventually: The second drawing... The brown areas are intended to be planting areas. Still not sure precisely which plants or where, other than I want cascading things in the front of the front beds, to come down and break up the facade of the wall which is six feet high. I'm thinking of rambling or ground cover roses, but not sure my neighbors would appreciate the thorns (or keep would their hands off the blooms). I do intend on climbing roses on the side bed though, to climb the porch railings. The side yard (where the kiddie pool is) is utilitarian - where we put our brush for composting, the hose spigot, veggetable garden, etc. No grass will grow in the middle of this area because there are pipes from the sump pumps in the basement running just under the surface. I intend to mulch it as it's suited for nothing but growing dirt. Thank you very much for looking, and for all of the advice so far! It is a great help and I think things are coming together very nicely in my mind and on paper.

You have a gorgeous view! We live on top of a very steep slope with beautiful views as well. Our slope is your typical Southern California boulder studded slope. We live on a steep private road with homes built along the flat portion of the ridge. Everyone has 2-10 acres and our properties slope steeply down to a seasonal stream and most own part of the next hill. NOBODY has horses up here, but there are big horse ranches in the flat-lands at the bottom of our hill. I wanted goats, but it's too steep for that also. A previous owner built a lower driveway ending under a huge deck, and he built many brick terraces, here and there. We love the terraces for our small vineyard, but the land is so steep, I take a hiking staff with me for support going down that hill. He used railroad ties to make graduated steps to get to certain areas down the hillside, but you are on your own in most places. I would suggest some steps to get down the hill. You don't mention planting for erosion control. It's a big factor here, and there are a lot of junipers and rosemary plantings to assist in that. Good luck with your project. Please show us photos when it's done!

adding photo here...

In terms of what plants to put there, try searching for rain garden plant lists for your area. A rain garden is usually a depression in the ground which is meant to fill with water during a storm and slowly drain, so rain garden plants generally need to be able to tolerate dry periods and wet periods, which I think would be similar to the conditions by your wall. Here's a general guide from Texas A&M: https://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/files/2011/05/Rain-Garden-Plant-List-11-02-09.pdf