Out of sight of neighbors and passersby, the back yard is the place where every family member wants their own pet projects — flowers, vegetables, a swing set, croquet, horseshoes, horses — whatever. The backyard plan, shown in the image below, is for lucky homeowners with a big back yard, but you can choose to duplicate only a portion of this yard, if yours is smaller. Different activities are allotted their own, defined space, but without high dividing fences. The big, green lawn provides plenty of play space as well as visual relief for the more complex surroundings. Note the following about this back yard plan:

• Divided patio: The two-level patio makes the spaces seem more intimate.
• Safe play area: The children’s play area doesn’t need fencing (except for the backdrop of side yard fencing), and you can see playing children from the house and patio.
• Shade trees: A big tree near the patio provides shade at just the spot where you want to spend your summer days. More strategically located shade trees make the children’s play area comfortable in hot weather.
• Privacy shrubs: Big evergreen and deciduous shrubs form privacy screens along the property lines.
• Well-located vegetable garden: The vegetable garden basks in the yard’s sunniest spot — away from trees. The fence and raised beds add an element of structure that makes the garden more presentable during its off-seasons.
• Seasonal color: A border of perennials and shrubs provides seasonal color right where you can see it most — at the edge of the patio. Select plants that are low enough not to cut off the view.
• Container flowers: Annuals and perennials grow in containers to brighten corners of the patio. Choose pots that are 12 inches in diameter or larger, and cluster them in groups of at least three.
  Click here for more on container gardens.