Deana's Chesterfield Zoo

The Backyard

Then and Now Shots

Over the years I think I have changed almost everything I have put in one way or another. Here are some of the bigger changes. I like to think they have all been improved along the way.

Big Waterfall
- This was the waterfall we had built for the new concrete pond. I wanted it big, but this one never seemed to match the yard, looking too abrupt and formal.
- This is the new waterfall. The back was left the same - only the front was torn out and replaced with over 2 tons of pink boulders. It suits the yard much better as I have boulders all around.
Over the bridge
- Retaining walls define a path over the main bridge to the gazebo. You would hit your head on the trumpet vine crossing the second bridge. The path is so tight it is almost a 'Z'.
- The second bridge is gone. The retaining walls defining the path were removed. Those stones and others were used to make curved walls defining flower beds. The path is wider and will be grass instead of woodchips.
By the Waterfall
- This is another view of the path to the gazebo. It also shows a dead tree by the waterfall and another purposeless area. There used to be a garden train in this area, but it didn't look right and was hard to keep in repair.
- Here are the new curved beds blending in the waterfall. I also moved the flower fountain here from another area where it was never noticed. The colors match the waterfall and it fills in the area where the dead tree was.
Side Pond
- This pond is off to the side in front of the dining room. It would get overwhelmed by the plants every year and finally the front began to cave in from people standing on the edge. It always had a woodsy feel to it.
- I tore out the liner and made the pond 2 feet longer and a foot wider to repair the damage from the partial cave in. I added the low waterfall, sloping the dirt up so there are no sidewalls. It is a favorite pond for all the frogs.
Patio Pond
- All the beds around the big trees were framed with landscape timbers. There were about 20 small beds. The timbers rotted and were taken out. I have struggled with how to define the beds ever since.
- I finally decided to use stone for the beds. I had ordered some flagstone and received the wrong thing. It worked perfect for the walls. It now surrounds the pond and the large tree and the trees across the path - making a softly winding path from the patio to the big pond.
Oriental Pond
- This small above ground pond was cute with it's waterfall. Until the 2 little stick size japanese maples decided to grow. They got so big you couldn't even see the pond unless you moved the branches out of the way.
- I removed the pond and replaced it with a larger one and moved it out into the yard 3 feet. The waterfall now sits where the front of the old pond was. The retaining wall is now curved like all of the other low walls in the yard.
Future Miniature Village
- This bed was originally 5 smaller beds that were combined into one large one. The formal lion fountain and the rustic pond for the dogs and the remaining 'T' shape of the bed never wanted to look like anything but a messy mish mash.
- This is the area all cleaned up. The lion fountain was moved to an area under the big trees across from where it was. The dog's pond was removed. I will put a 3 foot tall fence around this bed and install a garden train with the miniature houses.
Miniature Fairy Village
- I had this area under the wisteria where I could never get the plants to look right or live for long. They would be fine in the spring, but the thickness of the vine doesn't let rain through and makes it very shady.
- I found this village at a garden center. I decided it would be perfect in many ways for my yard. It is the same scale as the dollhouses. I have used low water plants. And it's all fairies and gnomes.