In addition to the side yard, the designer also created an intimate gravel seating area at the rear of the property. Though the backyard is surrounded by neighbors on all sides, the lush layers of plantings create the feeling of being in a secluded garden sanctuary. Lounge chairs and concrete stools circle around a gas fire bowl, providing the couple with an outdoor space to savor a morning cup of coffee or warm up on one of San Francisco’s many foggy days. Crushed basalt gravel covers the ground in the backyard. Its angular, decorative appearance makes it useful for paths and patios. Ritchey added a thin layer of the basalt over a few inches of base rock. Where the plants grow he added a thin layer of gravel for aesthetic effect.
Seasonal flower beds are maintenance time-sucks — requiring a good deal of planting, staking, watering and deadheading for their fleeting display of blooms. While you may not want to get rid of them entirely, consider replacing some of the planting space with easy-care shrubs. This landscape by Secret Gardens in Sydney, made up almost entirely of shrubs, provides a beautiful example of how enticing a garden without blooms can be.
Tivoli, another designer and manufacturer of linear lighting, showed off its new collection of strand light globes, called Adapt. The line features 11 globe styles that produce distinct outdoor lighting effects, with designs ranging from inset diamond shapes to frosted-glass rings and ripple-textured glass. With Adapt, Tivoli built on its line of low-voltage LED strand lighting, giving designers more options for customization and impact. Users can add light shades and choose the light temperature and intensity they want, in consideration of nocturnal wildlife and light pollution.
A color palette of ghostly silver and purple-black can look chic and sophisticated or a little spooky. In a container combination, try jagged-leaved cardoon (Cynara cardunculus), silvery dusty miller (Senecio cineraria), curly purple kale (Brassica oleracea ‘Redbor’) and dark purple coral bells (Heuchera spp.).
Top off the edibles with a floral garnish. Hibiscus (shown here) is one of the most iconic tropical flowers. It also happens to be edible. Both the flowers and leaves are used to make a refreshing iced tea. The flowers, which come in an array of vibrant colors, are also a nice edible garnish for a meal enjoyed out in your tropical oasis.
4. Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) Species native to Japan With foliage color so dark that it appears almost black, black mondo grass is a dark accent on the ground plane. Reaching roughly 1 foot tall and wide, mondo grass can be grown in masses or as a specimen around boulders. Pair it with gold or chartreuse flowers or foliage for a real color pop. Unlike many grasses, black mondo grass can grow in the shade, which can be a valuable asset. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 10) Water requirement: Moderate to regular, depending on climate Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
6. Define a modern entryway. Bronze foliage works well with modern designs since it is usually subtle enough to fit in with more contemporary color palettes of gray, silver, black and charcoal. Adding a bronze-leaved plant, such as this potted New Zealand flax (Phormium sp., zones 8 to 11), to an entryway with lots of cool-toned materials lends a welcome warmth to the space.
7. Golden Jackpot Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘SMBTJ’) This Japanese barberry, or barberry, stands out for its vivid gold foliage and compact, garden-friendly size and habit. It stays 2 feet tall and wide in a neat, rounded shape without pruning. It’s deciduous in most areas but will remain evergreen in warm-winter climates. Plants are resistant to rust and deciduous in most climates. Plant in a row as a low, golden border, mix with deep green boxwoods or plant with flowering perennials in blues and purples to provide a bright contrast. Caution: Japanese barberry is considered invasive in some regions; check with your local nursery before planting. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Partial to full sun Mature size: 2 feet tall and wide
7. Bring contrast to garden beds. Use dark-leaved plants as a rich counterpoint to bright green and pale silver foliage placed nearby. Here, bronze New Zealand flax (Phormium sp., zones 8 to 10) and purple-leaved plums contrast with billowing, light green maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis, zones 5 to 9) and silvery coast rosemary (Westringia fruticosa, zones 9 to 10).
Plant alternative: If you’re looking for white blooms in summer, fall phlox (Phlox paniculata) is a more allergy-friendly choice. Its fragrant flowers bloom throughout the summer in shades from white to pink, rose, red and lavender. The perennial phlox is hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius (zones 3 to 8). Once you’ve set out the plants, pinch back the tips to encourage them to branch. Provide good air circulation since fall phlox is prone to mildew.
front yard Consider simple gravel areas. There's a reason the French and Italians use gravel so extensively — it is organic, is charming, works with a number of different house styles and is easy to install. Instead of a structure for a focal point, gravel merely creates a base for your furniture to shine against. You can add some oversize pieces of flagstone as stepping stones, as shown here, or leave it simpler. Add an edging material around your gravel area to keep the surrounding grass from growing in — steel edging, bender board and mortared stone are all great options.
While silver carpet is one of Mullins’ go-to ground covers for sunny spots with well-draining soil, she cautions against planting in darker, wetter areas. “In shade, there will be a distinct ring where it will not grow,” she says. Walkability: Tolerates moderate foot traffic once established and fills in to form a dense, flat carpet that visually reads as a silver lawn. Where it will grow: Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9 degrees Celsius (zones 9 to 11) Water requirement: Moderate, low once established; drought-tolerant Light requirement: Full sun
Balancing beauty with privacy needs is a common landscape design problem for anyone who lives on a busy street. This inviting front yard in Vancouver, designed by landscape architect Paul Sangha, offers a creative solution through smart use of hedge plants and fencing. Plants include: Paperbark maple (Acer griseum, zones 4 to 8) ‘H.M. Eddie’ yew (Taxus x media ‘H.M. Eddie’, zones 4 to 7) Common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens, zones 5 to 9) ‘Aztec Pearl’ choisya (Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’, Zone 8) Water requirement: Low to moderate Light requirement: Full sun
lined stones and greenery
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