The clients had built a magnificent Italianate 'villa' with spectacular views of the Santa Barbara coastline. They had assembled an impressive array of garden objects from around the world which were to be incorporated into the gardens. But the challenges were numerous. Object scale had to carefully managed in this 40 foot by 80 foot space -- The statuary, hardscape elements, and fountains were carefully separated throughout the landscape, in order to de-emphasize the disparate sizes. Objects included a six-foot high Buddha, a 12" high prayer bell, and a massive 1,500 pound stone urn. Additionally, spectacular tree specimens were chosen and carefully placed to provide a counterweight to the other objects in the garden. * Builder of the Year: Best Landscape and Hardscape, Santa Barbara Contractors Association
This photo has 2 questions
evojoey wrote:
What is the small evergreen in the foreground? - I have many dwarf japanese evergreens and am unfamiliar with the one pictured. »
I like the gradations in the landscape, it's not just completely flat. I like how large landscape stones were embedded in, and also Bryan loves bells, that would be an awesome landscape element. The Japanese maples in the back are also great features.
The Prayer Bell is a beautiful addition! When I was in Japan I saw many of these at the temples and shrines I visited. The moss is also quite lovely and the maples add a perfect contrast to the lovely green garden.
A temple bell replica inevitably draws people to it. This soft blue bell, set in a sea of green with a nearby boulder standing guard, proves that a focal point needn't be a glaring contrast with the rest of the space. The temple bell is a strong feature, but the entire space has great design elements, from the careful placement of stone and plants to the soft color of the purple foliage and the unusual fence.