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I refer to my backyard
as "tree canopy-viewed
gardening". Our lot has
a severe slope and
access is via
staircases. Raised beds
contain brought-in soil,
native cedar mulch and
are edged with native
stone.
The entire garden is
watered via drip
irrigation including the
deck containers.
— Vickie, HCMG |
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Hillside
Gardening - Summer |
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In my front yard . . .originally a Japanese
garden, the entrance
beds were converted to
drought tolerant, sun
loving perennials in
2005 by the previous
owner. The most deer
resistant plantings are
on the perimeter.
Salvias, Russian sage, esperanza, Mexican
oregano, lantanas,
skullcaps and Dahlberg
daisy are the reliable
summer bloomers offering
nectar to hummers and
butterflies. |
Summer Pay-Off
Esperanza, trailing
lantana, Dahlberg
daisies, salvias & sages
in bloom.
Happy hummers,
butterflies, and
gardener! |
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Native and adapted
plants |
Salvia leucantha with
its purple spikes |
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A profusion zinnia
(apricot) and
Mexican oregano keep my
alter ego company. |
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It’s early morning,
let’s take a closer look
before the heat sets in
. . . |
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The summer of ’09
really tested
drought hardiness.
With 100+ daily
temps and no rain to
speak of, the annual
zinnia, Mexican
oregano, trailing
lantana and esperanza, right, bloom
via water-restricted
irrigation. Not a wilt
in sight! Left, annual
vinca fills a tippy pot.
Mulch is essential to
retain moisture. |
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Now to the
back yard . . .
Hillside
gardening isn’t for
sissies. A
hard-to-access corner of
the garden illustrates
the extreme elevation
change from the
street-side front garden
which is level with the
top story. Weeding and
pruning requires
multiple trips up and
down stairs, over rocks
and sometimes hanging on
by ropes! The
latticework conceals
extensive storage space
& the future home of
rainwater storage tanks.
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The back yard
fencing is native
cedar with chicken
wire mesh along the
bottom to discourage
armadillos.
Thornless prickly
pear cactus, flame
sumac and Texas red
oaks share this
tight space with
annual-filled
containers as well
as remnants of the
Japanese garden (pyracantha,
pittosporum and
ligustrum). Specimen
plants and
containers are
watered via an
automated drip
irrigation
system.
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Vertigo alert! Now,
here’s a garden view
I never
experienced in
Louisiana. Native
limestone rocks and
gravel as well as
cedar mulch are used
for toppings. All
the garden soil in
the terraced
plantings was
brought in. |
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Now, let’s take
a a closer look at
the back yard
plantings. |
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Back to Our Gardens
Next page, Summer in the
Back Yard Garden
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Photos by V Killeen |
