Landscaping for Backyard

 Long time, no post.  Busy.  Really, crazy busy.  I had drawn a landscape plan for the backyard, but realized with our drainage issues (mostly flat yard with a large drain which handles rainwater from 3 adjacent yards) I knew I needed some  professional help with the installation.  Also, very tired of putting in tiny to small trees and not seeing them mature so we wanted to start with medium to good size trees in this backyard.  I will now give you the before and after photos.
Looking down the driveway view before.....

and  with Chinese elm after.....

from the corner of the driveway looking toward the back corner where the drainage rock sits (under this rock is a 6 foot pit which handles the river that flows through our yard when it rains hard--every time it rains here it rains hard.) before.....



 

and  with cryptomeria after.....

This part is my favorite since it overlooks everything we see from the kitchen, den, and our bedroom and it was desolate.  We also have not had neighbors next door, but they should be moving in within the next month or so.  We needed some privacy for our patio as well as the living areas.  Before of our side yard......

And after.... brilliant if I do say so myself.  The ginko trees with create a distracting screen for the house next door without completely filling the side yard like an evergreen would.   Plus it is a ginko: the fall color is stunning and the shape is artistically beautiful.  The viburnum shrubs will grow to 5 feet wide and 8-10 feet tall.  Good privacy screen without filling the whole side yard. OK, OK, here are the after shots...... 

 So that is one item I have been up to( with a little help from a landscaping company).  I know everyone is anxious to find out about the fall vegetable garden and children, but since living through an asthma attack with a child who has not been diagnosed with asthma (at 2am no less) and taking said child to doctor for yet another strep infection (please take the tonsils out...please take the tonsils out....please take the tonsils out...) I just do not have the energy to summarize the rest of the adventures.  Promise pics of pumpkins (not thrilling as one child was ill) and fall pics of the munchkins soon.  love and hugs, B