Fremont St. in Callicoon is situated on a steep hill, with a creek running along one side so the backyards are challenging spots to garden. In addition to the slope challenge, there’s deer to worry about, and an abundance of rocks hiding in the soil. To make a wild-looking woodland garden for this client, the only option was terracing with deer resistant perennials and grasses. We put a good deal of the excavated rock to use building the walls, so less had to be brought in. The garden evolved over 2 seasons, me building the terraces, my client building the staircase, and the two of us sourcing and planting the perennials, grasses and shrubs. It looks great even in winter!

The garden inhabitants include:

 Achillea (Yarrow), Alchemilla (Lady’s Mantle), Amelanchier (Serviceberry), Amsonia (Bluestar), Asclepias Incarnata (Swamp Milkweed), Aster, Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats), Nepeta (Catmint), Panicum “Shenandoah” (Switchgrass), Perovskia (Russian Sage)  and Salix “Nishiki” (Willow) along the edges.