Transformations: Woods Behind Back Fence

Woods Behind Back Fence
Front Yard | Back Yard| Bali | Drycreek Valley | Woods behind the Back Fence

Woods Behind Back Fence Index
Pieris Porch | Buckeye Boulevard

This area includes the land outside the backyard fence that runs along the top-to-bottom slope. From the back yard, it is accessible from two gates, one in the corner of the Shaman's Park and one between the Meadow and the Spinner Park. This area was originally just woods, but I cut a path between the gates that then extends to the Scenic Overlook and beyond. It includes two areas, one of which is only partially on my property (the Buckeye Boulevard) but that I maintain, given that it's not clear exactly who owns it and that I have taken a stewardly role toward my environment.

Pieris Porch (View Slideshow)
The Pieris Porch is located just outside the gate in the Shamen's Park at the high end of the back yard. It looks out over the winding lane behind the house that leads to our neighbor's house, which is down by the river and not visible from the porch. The main area here is the patio, which is surrounded by a variety of pieris shrubs, including a Valley Rose, Dodd's Pearl Falls, Sugar Run Falls, and three Dorothy Wyckoffs, with a purple shamrock groundcover. Art in this area includes a concrete bulldog that appears to be part feline, which sits across the path from the patio; and an Asian panel amidst the purple shamrocks. I added one Eastern redbud to round out the plantings.

Buckeye Boulevard (View Slideshow)
The area is a pine forest on the other side of the path, extending to my neighbor's long and winding driveway. When I redesigned the Pergola Terrace, I moved all of the white bottlebrush buckeyes to the woods. Not only was I able to get the large shrubs themselves transplanted, I got tons of roots and planted them too, with a robust survival rate; and added a bunch of buckeyes from Thyme after Thyme's out-of-business sale. The whole, vast area is now a bottlebrush buckeye colony, beneath towering pines that I'm confident will eventually fall down. The area between the patio area and the lower gate to the backyard includes a narrow strip running along the backyard fence. This area alternates colonies of Reeve double file spirea, a bridal wreath spirea, and Dwarf Harbor Nandinas. Anything that survives in this bed is one tough plant; I've lost many more shrubs than I've had survive this area.