Today I invite you for a long pottering around my friend's garden. We have already visited that garden on the slope in the winter, just looking at the pictures from the past. You may view them here. This is the best example how difficult garden on the slope can be a blessing. Why? It makes smashing effects, that are difficult to achieve on the flat ground in the garden.
Let's go... This is really interesting, that just 30 meters after you enter the front gate you see steps down taking you to the house. On the left we see something new: newly constructed winter garden. I can't imagine how beautiful it will be after finishing and ready to use. Knowing talents of Krystyna, if will be something very special.... By now, let me take your hand... and let's go to see that piece of heaven....
... slowly going the stairs down.... on the right you see how tall is the bank. There is mainly evergreens planted mixed with some perenials like hostas. It was not easy to encourage plants to grow there, cos every rain was trying to flush everything down..... Krystyna's patience made it repairing, planting back, talking to them and this is how it looks today. 
... after going down the stairs and turning back, you see the bank in full charm.... have a closer look at the plant the right: this are 2 willows inoculated on one body. One is creeping and second is Hakuro nishiki - looks very interesting, right?
... here Juniperus of different species rulez! .... 
... you see the willow-doubledecker :) and also on the top right corner the bluest of the bluest Picea (pungens 'Hoopsi')
... this is how the stairs look or rather how they are hiding in the green, when you look from further perspective. I am thinking how many years it took to get this effect? 7-8 as I remember.
... let me introduce you to one of the inhabitants of rather indoor space: this is 'Zielony' (means 'Green') Iguana iguana - as you can see fully enchanted by Krystyna. She spent a lot of time to tame that wild animal and she made it. You can touch it without being eaten alive!
... but 'Zielony' feels most comfortable with her - see how he keeps looking at me and controls what I am doing with that weird shining metal thing in my hands?
.... on the porch there is many, many charming pots... I will not show all of them, because then we would have no time to see the rest of the garden....
... so we start to see the second level of the garden from the porch... pond... next levels down and almost not visible lake in the background...
... left side of the pond is a good place for seasonal planting... 
... pond is almost filled with plants, so it doesn't need additional filtering... plants do their job.... 
.... stairs is something you can't miss in this garden, cos they are everywhere.... light green color of the fern and orange blooming azalea look very cheering up together...
.... same stairs far view from longer distance... and we are already on the third level...
Rumex sanguineus var. sanguineus - very interesting perenial. 
... wooden bench with Taxus baccata 'Repandens' on the right and Anemone hupehensis in the back - it will look even better when it starts to bloom in July ...
.... and this time no stairs, just a path to the fifth level guarded by two willows Hakuro nishiki ... 
... fourth level - oh my! how she can walk up and down while gardening with all the tools... what if you forget something? I often do. Do you?Yes... fourth level has one more bank down.... and there is currently built stone stairs...
... Stairs by Krystyna's husband Krzysztof - big bravissimo for YOU Krzysztof :)
... then if you want and still feel not too tired, we may go for a walk at the lake ...
... after that long walk, I guess we are all tired, but happy. To induce it even more, let's have some chocolate and get even more happy from that huge dose of magnesium... on the picture you see a chocolate fountain - if you want to spoil you guests, that's the fancy device, that makes everyone happy. You plug it, place chocolate in, warm it up.... and that's it. There is a lot of cheering up around, cos it is not easy to eat... so have fun! Thank you for that long excursion....
Cheers,
Ewa
