Continuing the tour--into the back yard

Note 1: This is the fourth installment of a "tour" of my gardens, the first appearing on April 1st, prefaced by garden maps on March 9th.

Note 2: I will not have another post until early July, as I will be touring in Utah.

   The first photo, of course, is the same as the photo on my home page.  The view is from the upper patio which is just west of the house, and it looks to the southwest.  The fence (just replaced a month ago) is on the south lot line.  

   The view of the next photo is directly west, and it shows the woods which is on the west lot line.  The view of the next photo is to the northwest.  The area in the right side of the photo (screened somewhat by shrubs) with red begonias is the Williamsburg Garden.  It will be shown in another blog.  Finally, beyond that garden is a partial view of my Japanese-style garden, which will be the last in the series of blogs on my "tour."

   The red bricks in the patio are reclaimed street pavers installed in streets of Milwaukee in the early 1900s.  I collected them in 1973 when the street was torn out and repaved.

   The curved planter in the first photo is made of reclaimed granite cobblestones, used in paving Milwaukee streets in the late 1800s.  I got them in 1982 from a man who wanted two cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.  Quite the bargain, I thought.
   The only annual flower I use is begonia (22 flats), and only in one color plus white.  I believe this monochromatic scheme has more impact.  Plus, it avoids a problem I used to have trying to mix species and colors--clashing forms, colors, and textures, similar to what I found when I tried wearing plaid pants and striped shirts.