My Gardens, My World - Final Post (8 of 8)

These final photos are of the backyard areas that stand out from the other areas and are grouped together here.  There are seven other posts previously that include all the gardens.  This is our 40th year in this location. This post includes a native garden, the oak tree area in shade and in sun, and my swing area.

Overview of the backyard native garden area

Overview of the one and only oak tree shade and sun areas.  That's a young redbud tree next to the shed that is quickly making another shade area.

The Native Garden is located where the sidewalk meets the steps.  It is a central location of the backyard gardens.  Everything comes back every year and there has been many different native plants that have come and gone.  Right now everything is filled but the rose verbena looks a little sparse after several years of success.  I will try to add some new plants to refresh.  The fennel is more of an herb but I added it here because it is a host plant for swallowtail butterflies which frequent this native garden.  It does take up too much room as I have already trimmed it in half.  It also spreads seeds too much so I am allowing it to grow in another garden before I remove it here.  

Just below the Native garden along the sidewalk are an Autumn Gold sedum, dark yellow  Stella d'Ora lilies, surprise lilies, and blackberry lilies. The corner had a beautiful yellow St. John's Wort shrub for many years that got too big and needed trimming often and finally died.  There's a tricolor low growing plant new this year that is some kind of succulent, I think.

New Tricolor Plant at Corner

Blue Mist

                 Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

Purple Poppy Mallow

Speedwell (aka  Veronica) is a perennial that attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators so is included in this native garden.  I have blue and red varieties in several places around the landscape as it grows so well. 

I have two colors of yarrow - red and yellow which are likely hybrids that come back well every year.

Rose Verbena next to Slender Mountain Mist (2025)

Coneflowers -  may be a hybrid (2025)

New England Aster is located in the center of the Native Garden and has just been trimmed about one third to keep it from getting too tall as it is in the 2025 fall photo above.  It is a magnet for butterflies!

In the early 2000s, we removed nine oak trees and one cedar tree as they were all in places that could threaten our house in a storm.  We left this one oak tree in the middle of the backyard.  We had many native redbud trees planted 30 years ago.  We live at the edge of town that is bordered by heavy timbered areas and a river in a remote rural area.  There are plenty of trees and wildlife in a natural setting for miles and miles!  

This is an overview of the area directly under the oak tree which is partly shaded.  I added the black metal fence this year to keep two old rose bushes supported as the original wooden fence deteriorated.  Under the tree is mostly lirope that bloom a blue spike flower in late summer and orange day lilies.  There are several native blazing star plants that rise above the lirope here.  

The old rose bushes came from two different slips taken from a country cemetery fence and planted in this location soon after we moved here.  They are very hardy and highly scented.  

Old Heirloom Rose

Along the lower rock wall is a white honeysuckle; likely non-native but highly scented so I keep it trimmed.  It can be a problem to remove because it is growing in the rock wall.  I have made peace with it.

Inside the new black metal fence area I had  added some poppies which came back this year and will keep seeding itself.  It is a good place to let it go.  I also planted sunflowers, nasturtium, and purple poppy mallow which all came back on their own this year. 

Still mostly under the oak tree but in more sun are 3-tiers of garden areas terraced downhill.   This garden has an Autumn Joy sedum, purple speedwell, and red salvia.  The lower garden was full of fancy irises for about 20 years but have been impacted by a flame-thrower last year and only about half came back.  I will be purchasing some new stock this fall to fill in the area and instructed the flame-thrower operator to stay out of my flower beds! Apparently, there were too many weeds for too long a time after the irises were done blooming here.  

From the sidewalk looking downhill to the street, you can see 3-tiers of gardens under the oak tree.  It is partially shaded with full sun to the left at the boxwood hedge and below.  Close to the sidewalk are Stella d'Ora lilies.  The middle garden is a gravesite for one of our pet dachshunds of 15 years named Daffney.  There's a yellow trumpet lily, native blue mist, and blue batchelor's buttons growing here.  The circle garden at the bottom of the hill next to the shed is the gravesite for Daffney's mother, Sassy, who also lived 15 years.  This year we have planted sweet potato vines and cannas with the daffodils bulbs.  

Below the boxwood hedge is another excess plant garden with deteriorating railroad ties.  Two volunteer fennel plants came up this year and will likely stay here as I consider removing the original fennel plant from the Native Garden.  There is a Mexican sunflower plant in the middle.  Also in this garden is a New England aster, Shasta daisies, red salvia, and hollyhocks.  There is no plan here and anything goes...or stays!

One of many little lizards that lives in this area of deteriorating wood, rocks, and dense boxwood hedge.  

Back to my Happy Place where I will end this post from the perspective of my Swing Area where I spend a lot of time when the work is done and I can enjoy My Gardens, My World.  

One of the original oak trees has a rotting stump remaining.  Over the years it has been part of the garden mostly supporting the native coral honeysuckle vine which has been encouraged to depend on the trellis now. This stump has also been the site for many creative projects such as a gnome home and fairy tree complete with all kinds of fun ornaments. It has now been cleaned up and awaits yet another undetermined project; likely various succulents growing in the numerous holes. I will think about it soon.  There are various succulents in abundance here including hens & chickens.  Lemon balm and catnip grow well here and come back every year.  I also planted marigolds this year.  Close by are native hibiscus and self-seeding Mexican sunflowers later in the summer.

I call these succulents Donkey Tails

   

                          Native Pink Hibiscus (summer/fall)                                      

Mexican Sunflower with Monarch Butterfly (late summer/fall)

This is also Bobi Kitty's Happy Place with his Catnip Bed

I hope you have enjoyed the tour of My Gardens, My World.  Come back anytime for a visit.  Maybe you have a special place you have made to be in your world and understand how important it is to have one.  Right now, the world is in a dark side but there can be hope for a new day and for the light to shine again!  ✌💗 

"The world will not find peace until power learns compassion.  Let us demand leaders who choose love over fear, art over war, and humanity over destruction.  It is time to return to the real garden." ~ Paul McCartney