In this recent outdoor project, we had several goals in mind: attend to some mistreated live oak trees, reduce lawn area, create a patio in the front yard, provide some screening from the street, and fashion a secure courtyard at the front door.

New planting beds surrounding Live Oaks address the needs of their once mistreated roots, allow for the addition of Texas Mountain Laurels--for additional screening--and act as a physical separation between the street and the courtyard beyond.

Two tone gravel areas and steel edging organize the courtyard space. Pathways and patio terrace are built with slabs of Texas Leuder’s limestone.

Large blocks of native limestone mark edges of the courtyard space and do double-service as a place for impromptu seating. The owner says: “Things are really turning out quite spectacular! Kudos to the designer…. What you envisioned is like oxygen to this place. A new sense of space, light, privacy, color, texture-- we are just beginning to take it in.”

A simple palette of plants--including Dwarf Katie Ruellia and Dwarf Yaupon Holly--performs well in shady and sunny conditions. New Japanese maples mark the end of the patio area.

The secure courtyard at the front door features succulents in vessel planters, lit from above at night.