The rear yard was very small in area and the usable space for their patio was alongside the parking area in the driveway on one side, had views of the street on the other side, and was below a large home that sat close to their property line. The client wanted privacy, a play area for their small children, and a level lawn area for recreation. We developed a space for the patio with plantings for screening the neighbor’s house and a beautiful Walpole wooden trellis and arbors to screen the driveway and street (which also provide a safe area for the children to play). A low natural fieldstone wall with a bluestone cap wraps around the perimeter of the patio and doubles as seating for larger gatherings. The play area was built as part of a rock garden with multi-level boulders surrounding the "sand box" that you can sit or climb on! Once the children outgrow the fun of sand, it can be switched out for plant material to supplement the existing lush gardens. A small level lawn area adjoins this play space just across the irregular bluestone path and narrow perennial garden. Natural bluestone steps transition visitors from the different elevations of the property.