I received a lovely Before & After from Claire over at The Garden Diaries last week, and I’m excited to share her hillside pond makeover with you guys today. What was once just a plain set of steps up the side of a grassy hill has become a fantastic hillside retreat nestled into a slope that leans right next to the house.
![A front yard with a large tree and neatly-trimmed grass stretches over a sleepy slope. There is a patch of bare soil and a set of stairs leading up to a house with a brick foundation and white siding in the background. A green arrow with the word “Before” is on the left side of the image.](https://pithandvigor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/clairebefore.jpg)
I love the addition of the retaining walls and the cascading waterfall, which really brings this sweet little pond to the next level. I really like the idea of having an area like this so close to the house- it’s nice to be able to step inside for another cup of coffee without having to trek across the entire dew-ridden yard. The other great thing, in this case anyway, is that the waterfall can be probably be heard from indoors, which I’m sure is a relaxing addition to a warm summer night.
Yep, I’m sold- definitely adding a project like this to my 5-year plan.
![A landscaped backyard with various colorful plants and flowers surrounding a small pond with a waterfall on the sleepy slope. There is a rustic wooden bench in the foreground, and a stone retaining wall in the background. A green arrow with "After" written on it highlights the transformation.](https://pithandvigor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/claireafter.jpg)
And below is what it looks like in bloom…those purple irises are stunning in this setting!
![A backyard garden features a small waterfall cascading over rocks into a hillside pond surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant purple irises. The scene includes various plants, shrubs, and a stone wall under a porch in the background.](https://pithandvigor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/075-1.jpg)
Thanks so much for sharing, Claire! –erin
If you have a great landscape makeover that you want to share, do what Claire did and send us an email! You may just see your project featured in a future Before & After article.
Images from: The Garden Diaries
Of all the garden transformations you’ve shown, I think this is my favorite. I never – ever – would have conceived such a dramatic change from the 1st photo.