Due to the topography of the lot we had a small creek flowing
out of the hillside north of the house from November till May
the first year. To take care of the problem we put in a rock wall
with a french drain along the base that continued around the front
of the house then under the driveway to empty into a dry well
in the orchard. We then built a dry creek bed in the swale above
the drain.
The sun / shade differences in the yard create micro climates
that can be dramatically different within ten feet of each other.
On the north side of the house the shaded area is moist and dark
enough to grow hostas and other shade plants and the rock wall
ten feet away is sunny and dry with rock rose, sun rose, and similar
plants. |