So here is a look back from the driveway. The Garden Grotto featured in the posts prior to this is back behind this young grove of ornamental “Shirotae” Cherries. The lawn we mounded somewhat and placed a few boulders in, just to break up the lines a bit and to provide some interest. The dog here I thought I might remove, but I like looking at him, knowing he stole so many of our lunches just to remind me I will probably outlive him. A true cur he was, too, although he sucked up well, lol. Hey, we run into lots of these guys. They tend to show up for lunch times, expressing their uncanny political abilities by almost always achieving some sort of edible treat. Naturally, then they make a habit out of it. This one became quite the “pal”. And he gained weight on this project, I am willing to bet. 
This home also had cement edge stripping installed around all of its grass lawns. I believe there was something like 1,200 feet in all. It makes a very perfect edge and is ten times easier to maintain. Sturdy and long-lasting, the tires of a lawn mower can rest in it while mowing without any ill effect. It also addresses the tendency of bluegrass to rhizome outward and make it far more controllable. I love the stuff, myself.
Grotto
This shot goes across the top of our little Garden Grotto towards the front yard and the driveway and street. The trees at the top I arranged to be a grove of ornamental cherries (Shirotae’s) which make a spectacular Springtime look. Inasmuch as this was taken soon after completing the project, their growth is not as visible or rewarding as the current look offers, 4 years later. The branches are all nearly touching now and the blooms tend to the spectacular. There are abundant perennials planted throughout the trees near the edges of the upraised planter walls as well. One of our grasses is visible in the foreground. I absolutely love the modern grass trend. They are hardy and make a fabulous garden addition.
We placed a meandering band of lawn, seen here at the top of this picture and which I will give a view of tomorrow, from the driveway itself, connecting generally with this aspect. Naturally, the Garden Grotto will not be seen from there, which was the initial purpose of this little sunken hideaway in the first place.
In this picture, we reveal the small water feature, our “little Lourdes”, embedded in the rocks to the top. A kneeling figurine prays there, lending some placidity and a serene contemplative subject for the eye. As can also be seen, we dealt with potential drainage issues in such a trapped little scenario by making a sort of French Drain around the base of all the rock walls and connected to a pipe which we ran under the walls and the soil to the rear of the property, where it “daylights” and drains.
Grotto