So now let’s take the overview of the garden to the back of the house.
A flagstone path leads to the Back Garden.
Looking through the arbor.
This flower bed lines the hedge on the west side of the yard.
There aren’t a lot of blooms in the back now, but there’s Purple-Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus) and Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica).
I put a bed around the base of this Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum).
Also some years ago, when I was randomly installing raised beds all over the place, I put this raised bed in the middle of the Back Garden, with a backbone of Hellebores along the east side.
At one end there’s a bunch more Indian Pink. And in a happy act of random plant acquisition this year, we added this ‘Porcelain Blue’ Blue Corydalis (Corydalis flexuosa). I think they go well together, and I look forward to the Corydalis bulking up.
Solomon’s Plume (Maianthemum racemosa) in the bed at the base of the Silver Maple. Those berries turn bright red, but then the plant tends to flop. And yes, that’s variegated Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium podagraria) mixed in there. I always snip off the flowers, but I’ve given up trying to get rid of it.
I’ve marked off a section of lawn with pavers to create an area where I do not mow. Results have been mixed.
Here’s our patio, adorned with pots full of disease resistant Beacon Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), Calladiums, and a couple other things.
The ‘Annabelle’ Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) are blooming against the new fence that the neighbors put in.
And I have to show you my Maidenhair Ferns (Adiantum pedatum). It was kind of slow to get established but I think it is the most beautiful of the ferns we have.
And here’s our back porch. I transplanted a clump of ‘Raspberry Wine’ Monarda a few years ago and now it’s vying with the ferns to take over this bed. On the back steps we grow various herbs and Swiss chard. They mostly do pretty well despite being in part shade.
Finally, here’s a video Judy took of a Chickadee taking a caterpillar into one of our bird houses to feed the nestlings.
Our back garden is more tranquil than the front. Recently our son David and his partner Meridith visited us, and we had hours relaxing together back there. It’s the kind of space that enhances time with family and friends,