FormLA Landscaping

Home Improvement Professionals , Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers
13 Reviews
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FormLA Landscaping
13 Reviews

Rustic Forrested Garden

This rustic natural open space entices people to wander the full landscape. A flowing decomposed granite trail passes under a forrest of mature frees, through an IdealMow meadow, and past dry river and native plant beds. There is also ample room for rest and entertainment in the BBQ Bar and Outdoor Lounge. The garden has been a semi-perennial favorite on LA's iconic Native Plant Garden Tour.
Country: United States
Others who worked on this project: Lesly Hall Photography, Theodore Payne Foundation
The beautiful, delicate Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) shading the drive fills with funnel-shaped pink flowers in fall.
Desert Willow Shades Walk and Drive
Defining the outdoor living space from the expansive meadow and forrest was essential to creating the areas sense of intimacy. The mix of dry river and natural path and patio materials accomplishes this goal with ample charm.
2017, 2016 Native Garden Tour, Granada Hills
The property is cooled by a deep canopy of well-established trees. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography
Shaded Trail
Cutting through a deeply forested area at the back of the property this decomposed granite path leads to a perfect retreat for a shaded nap!
Shaded Hammock
Often guests, including family, choose to arrive at the home through this side, accessible from the driveway. The crunch of gravel as they enter the space announces their arrival, and they're instantly welcomed with smiles and delicious smells. (This location is also convenient when the homeowners...
Outdoor Kitchen Welcomes Guests
The outdoor kitchen is a favorite place for the homeowners. The refrigerator, sink, grill and abundance of countertop space, minimize the need to retreat into the home while entertaining. The built-in bar space facilitates engagement while cooking, while providing a subtle bit of privacy for meal...
Outdoor Kitchen
The outdoor living room has a view of the full garden, yet proximate foliage leaves it feeling private and protected. From here, it's intuitive to engage those cooking and seated at the bar. The glow of lights under the roof extension and in the home also add to the feeling of inclusion experienced...
Expanded Living Space
Well-defined by ground-level materials and a shift in elevation, the kitchen and living space still have a visual and functional cohesion. The bioswale and mid-height foliage between this space and the expansive garden lend a felt sense of coziness and destination. Photo: Orly Olivier
Outdoor Great Room
Entertainment space is designed for flow, visual interest and comfort.
BBQ Bar and Lounge
Low Water Fountain - Outdoor Fountains And Ponds
The soft babble of the low flow water fountain adds a sense of tranquility to the outdoor lounge and attracts songbirds. Photos: Orly Olivier
Low Water Fountain
The outdoor lounge overlooks the full landscape full of trails, trees, and a broad meadow with colorful flower and tree borders.
Garden View Lounge
The mix of patio and walkway materials, flowing from natural stone to wood, to stamped concrete and decomposed granite support the garden's eclectic, rustic aesthetic. Photo: Orly Olivier
2017, 2016 Native Garden Tour, Granada Hills
These pre-existing raised edible garden beds sit on the opposite side of the home. Harvesting inspires a stroll across or around the back garden via a set of decomposed granite trails - or a romp across the IdealMow meadow.
Raised Edible Beds
A dry river moat wraps an outdoor lounge and BBQ bar, providing a sense intimacy within the expanse of the full garden. It also serves as a bioswale, directing water away from the home and into flower beds.
Dry River Bridge
A free flowing decomposed granite path weaves through native shrub beds along the perimeter of the large central sedge meadow. The path continues toward the back of the property where a forest of mature trees provide a shady retreat for a swing surrounded by native flowers.
IdealMow Meadow Path
The living space and outdoor kitchen can be seen from most of the expansive garden, even the far point of the trail that wraps the space. Grandchildren can always see parents, grandma and grandpa as they explore. Photo: Orly Olivier
Play-Ready Garden
The deep shade created by the trees at the back of the property does more than cool the yard. Tree canopies can cool spaces by 20 degrees, lessening the energy costs of nearby homes. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography
View from a Shaded Hammock
Rain or shine, this dry river is a delightful view for adults and a natural playspace for young people. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography
Dry River Whimsey
Dry river bordered by Indian Mallow, Coyote Bush, and a shaded water feature invite play beyond the large swing set. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography
Natural Play Space
Shaded Picnic Stop - Bird Feeders
A yellow finch enjoys a native meadow picnic space.
Shaded Picnic Stop
The charming, delicate blooms of California Indian Mallow are hard to beat when they emerge from delicate stalks with silvery leaves.
Indian Mallow
A great slope retainer, hearty, drought tolerant and fire resistant Dwarf Coyote Bush brings a bright splash of Pantone 2016's green flash to a landscape.
Dwarf Coyote Bush
Removing highly flammable, invasive plants is key. When removing Pride of Madera, White sage, Salvia alpiana makes for a great alternative. The California native sage scents the air with an earthy, fresh fragrance, and its edible leaves are a perfect addition to Thanksgiving meals.
White Sage
Blue-eyed grass adds a delightful surprise to the forrest understory at the far back of the property. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography
Blue Eyed Grass
Ceanothus, a California native lilac, brings a deep, fresh fragrance and eye-catching blue blooms. Find it at the Theodore Payne Foundation and Las Pilitas Nurseries.
California Lilac
Hummingbirds flock to Calliandra californica, also known as Red Fairyduster. Its fanned blooms fascinate people too!
Red Fairyduster.
The grayish foliage of Sphaeralcea ambigua, commonly called Dessert Mallow, erupts with extraordinary Peach Echo to Fiesta Red blooms in high water years. They thrive in rocky hillsides and washes.
Desert Globemallow's Fiesta Red Blooms
Silver Encelia farinosa, California Brittle Brush, breaks out in daisy-like buttercup blooms with darker yellow centers in spring.
Brittlebush
Visitors couldn't resist the IdealMow meadow of Carex pansa! Luckily, this Californa native grass can manage relatively heavy foot traffic and needs only 25-50 percent of the water needed by a traditional lawn. It maintains its green through high-heat and needs no chemical fertilizers of pesticides...
Carex Pansa IdealMow Meadow
The buttercup-colored, Hibiscus-like blooms of Fremontodendron begin to decorate the bush in early spring eventually consuming the full push. Also known as California Glory Flannel Bush, Fremontodendron has tree-like and prostrate versions.
California Flannelbush
Festuca 'Siskyou Blue' makes for a striking lawn border or lawn. It's silvery-blue color delivers compelling contrast with Spanish tile rooves, terra cotta flagstone patios, and deeper greens. Its simple, predictable, mounding form also makes it a great match for modern structures.
Festuca 'Siskyou Blue'
Salvia chamaedroides,' a non-native with purple flowers and silver-green foliage, is one of the few non-natives in the garden.
Salvia Chamaedroides
Non-native foliage like this Wisteria that covers the arbor was preserved in the landscape remodel.
Wisteria