Landscape Design
20 Laid-Back Summer Gardens Inspired by Nature
Enjoy the season’s beauty and relaxed style with landscapes that welcome wildlife and embrace their surroundings
Some of the most appealing summer gardens reflect the season’s relaxed vibe and natural style. With their billowy grasses and flowers, slightly untamed designs and abundance of pollinators and other beneficial wildlife, these gardens draw you outside and invite you to sit back and take it easy. If you’re looking for ways to give your own garden a more welcoming, casual feel during the warmest months, take a cue from the following 20 landscapes uploaded to Houzz.
2. Lawn Conversion
Refugia Landscape Design/Build turned a half-acre lawn into a lush meadow of grasses, native wildflowers, trees and shrubs. The planting mix welcomes birds, hummingbirds and pollinators year-round and provides privacy for the Bryn Mawr, Massachusetts, home. Remnants of the original lawn cut through the garden as hidden paths, leading visitors through an ever-changing tapestry of color.
7 Landscape Design Ideas to Replace a Traditional Lawn
Refugia Landscape Design/Build turned a half-acre lawn into a lush meadow of grasses, native wildflowers, trees and shrubs. The planting mix welcomes birds, hummingbirds and pollinators year-round and provides privacy for the Bryn Mawr, Massachusetts, home. Remnants of the original lawn cut through the garden as hidden paths, leading visitors through an ever-changing tapestry of color.
7 Landscape Design Ideas to Replace a Traditional Lawn
3. Pollinator Heaven
A plant-filled garden border that surrounds this Maryland home’s raised patio is a lovely change from the weedy lawn it replaced. Native Plant Scapes filled the reclaimed planting area with native plants that welcome birds and bees.
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
A plant-filled garden border that surrounds this Maryland home’s raised patio is a lovely change from the weedy lawn it replaced. Native Plant Scapes filled the reclaimed planting area with native plants that welcome birds and bees.
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
4. Rocky Mountain Meadow
A wildlife meadow greets the family and their guests at this Monument, Colorado, home. Accent Landscapes combined grasses and perennials to create an eye-catching space that is both drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. A retaining wall of small boulders adds structure and fits right in with the native landscape.
Tour 3 Marvelous Meadow Gardens and Learn About Their Plants
A wildlife meadow greets the family and their guests at this Monument, Colorado, home. Accent Landscapes combined grasses and perennials to create an eye-catching space that is both drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. A retaining wall of small boulders adds structure and fits right in with the native landscape.
Tour 3 Marvelous Meadow Gardens and Learn About Their Plants
5. Hillside Beauty
Landscape architect Martin Hoffmann softened the transition between the pool area and a hillside vineyard at this Danville, California, home, with a nature-inspired planting bed. Carefully placed boulders, a mix of shrubs and perennials, and a rustic fence lend a country look.
Landscape architect Martin Hoffmann softened the transition between the pool area and a hillside vineyard at this Danville, California, home, with a nature-inspired planting bed. Carefully placed boulders, a mix of shrubs and perennials, and a rustic fence lend a country look.
Urbanism Designs
6. Shady Shelter
A tree-shaded patio offers a welcome respite from the summer heat in this Stanford, California, yard. The trees, which were existing, provide overhead shade and a sense of structure. The surrounding grasses and plantings reference the local landscape and soften the lines of the midcentury modern home.
How to Create a Beautiful Shade Garden
6. Shady Shelter
A tree-shaded patio offers a welcome respite from the summer heat in this Stanford, California, yard. The trees, which were existing, provide overhead shade and a sense of structure. The surrounding grasses and plantings reference the local landscape and soften the lines of the midcentury modern home.
How to Create a Beautiful Shade Garden
7. Inviting Entry
An expansive perennial garden along one side of this Naperville, Illinois, home’s entry provides a colorful contrast to the grassy, tree-lined landscape opposite it. The prairie-inspired design, by Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors, stretches from the street across the hillside, ending near the home’s entry.
An expansive perennial garden along one side of this Naperville, Illinois, home’s entry provides a colorful contrast to the grassy, tree-lined landscape opposite it. The prairie-inspired design, by Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors, stretches from the street across the hillside, ending near the home’s entry.
8. Modern Meets Mediterranean
Landscape architect Keith Willig dotted the landscape around this modern Atherton, California, home with climate-friendly Mediterranean plantings, native grasses, succulents, perennials and some personalized touches. The result is a warm and inviting blend of greens, grays and soft yellows that sets off both the house and the imported antique doors Willig installed as a focal point.
Landscape architect Keith Willig dotted the landscape around this modern Atherton, California, home with climate-friendly Mediterranean plantings, native grasses, succulents, perennials and some personalized touches. The result is a warm and inviting blend of greens, grays and soft yellows that sets off both the house and the imported antique doors Willig installed as a focal point.
Tate Studio Architects
9. Desert Blend
It’s hard to tell where the landscape design ends and the desert begins at this Scottsdale, Arizona, home. The designers used a mixture of cactus and native shrubs for the plant palette. They then interspersed large boulders within the space to mimic the natural landscape the home overlooks.
9. Desert Blend
It’s hard to tell where the landscape design ends and the desert begins at this Scottsdale, Arizona, home. The designers used a mixture of cactus and native shrubs for the plant palette. They then interspersed large boulders within the space to mimic the natural landscape the home overlooks.
10. Butterfly Retreat
Landscape designer and Houzz contributor Benjamin Vogt created this 20-foot-deep border of native plants to support the local birds and bees and especially monarch butterflies. A wide grassy path meanders alongside, allowing visitors to take in the views and the wildlife at this Nebraska site.
6 Steps to Creating Your Butterfly Garden
Landscape designer and Houzz contributor Benjamin Vogt created this 20-foot-deep border of native plants to support the local birds and bees and especially monarch butterflies. A wide grassy path meanders alongside, allowing visitors to take in the views and the wildlife at this Nebraska site.
6 Steps to Creating Your Butterfly Garden
11. Borrowed Views
The stunning views of the Berkshires and surrounding landscape at this Hudson River Valley, New York, home are the backdrop for the extensive gardens. With 14 acres of meadows and woodlands to work with, Hortulus Animae blended deer-resistant native plants with rustic hardscaping to create a haven for pollinators along with a colorful, relaxing and inspiring location for people.
The stunning views of the Berkshires and surrounding landscape at this Hudson River Valley, New York, home are the backdrop for the extensive gardens. With 14 acres of meadows and woodlands to work with, Hortulus Animae blended deer-resistant native plants with rustic hardscaping to create a haven for pollinators along with a colorful, relaxing and inspiring location for people.
Tomrose Construction
12. Graceful Grasses
A swath of Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans, USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone) lines the steps leading from this Sonoma, California, home to an adjacent orchard. The grass’s texture softens the space and is a fitting companion to the stone steps, gravel patio and trees. Come fall, the grass will turn bright orange, adding a splash of color.
12. Graceful Grasses
A swath of Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans, USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone) lines the steps leading from this Sonoma, California, home to an adjacent orchard. The grass’s texture softens the space and is a fitting companion to the stone steps, gravel patio and trees. Come fall, the grass will turn bright orange, adding a splash of color.
Gettliffe Architecture
13. Colorado Sanctuary
The landscape designers let nature take the lead at this modern home nestled above the Arkansas Valley in central Colorado. The mix of native plants, boulders and rocks sets the stage for stunning vistas from the home’s interior and courtyard while celebrating the unique setting.
13. Colorado Sanctuary
The landscape designers let nature take the lead at this modern home nestled above the Arkansas Valley in central Colorado. The mix of native plants, boulders and rocks sets the stage for stunning vistas from the home’s interior and courtyard while celebrating the unique setting.
14. Wildlife Welcome
Bioswales filled with native plants, along with active streambeds and flagstone paths, welcome wildlife and people to this Los Angeles landscape. FormLA Landscaping made sure there were plenty of spots for relaxing and taking in the views, appreciating the wildlife and savoring the fragrances of the diverse plants.
Bioswales filled with native plants, along with active streambeds and flagstone paths, welcome wildlife and people to this Los Angeles landscape. FormLA Landscaping made sure there were plenty of spots for relaxing and taking in the views, appreciating the wildlife and savoring the fragrances of the diverse plants.
15. Perennial Swaths
Wide swaths of perennials and grasses sweep across this Somerset, England, hillside. Green & Gorgeous installed the wildflower beds, creating a nature-inspired transition between the more defined areas around the farmhouse and the open space beyond the property’s edge.
Wide swaths of perennials and grasses sweep across this Somerset, England, hillside. Green & Gorgeous installed the wildflower beds, creating a nature-inspired transition between the more defined areas around the farmhouse and the open space beyond the property’s edge.
16. Leafy Backdrop
Perennial beds create a living backdrop for this Pennsylvania seating nook. The natural stone used for the patio and retaining wall complements the plantings and defines the lounge. The designers at Refugia Landscape Design/Build added a meandering path that wanders through the hillside plantings to hidden play areas.
Shop for patio furniture on Houzz
Perennial beds create a living backdrop for this Pennsylvania seating nook. The natural stone used for the patio and retaining wall complements the plantings and defines the lounge. The designers at Refugia Landscape Design/Build added a meandering path that wanders through the hillside plantings to hidden play areas.
Shop for patio furniture on Houzz
Mabbott Seidel Architecture
17. Rooftop Greenery
Wood planters filled with a mix of grasses frame the terrace at this Brooklyn, New York, home. Feathery grasses soften the look and bring a touch of the country to an urban locale. The planters are tall enough to provide privacy for those on the terrace but don’t impede views from indoors.
17. Rooftop Greenery
Wood planters filled with a mix of grasses frame the terrace at this Brooklyn, New York, home. Feathery grasses soften the look and bring a touch of the country to an urban locale. The planters are tall enough to provide privacy for those on the terrace but don’t impede views from indoors.
18. Container Meadow
Grass-filled containers turn a corner of this Newport Beach, California, balcony into a miniature grassland. Garden Studio set the plants in woven cachepots to complete the look.
Browse outdoor pots and planters
Grass-filled containers turn a corner of this Newport Beach, California, balcony into a miniature grassland. Garden Studio set the plants in woven cachepots to complete the look.
Browse outdoor pots and planters
19. Elegant Rain Garden
The elegant rain garden at this Lafayette, California, home is part of an overhaul designed to connect the landscape with a nearby stream and mature woodlands. Roxy Designs used a mix of low-maintenance and drought-tolerant plants interspersed with boulders for year-round beauty. As a bonus, the rain garden also overflows into the creek during the winter, helping to restore the natural habitat.
The elegant rain garden at this Lafayette, California, home is part of an overhaul designed to connect the landscape with a nearby stream and mature woodlands. Roxy Designs used a mix of low-maintenance and drought-tolerant plants interspersed with boulders for year-round beauty. As a bonus, the rain garden also overflows into the creek during the winter, helping to restore the natural habitat.
Woodhull
20. Coastal Style
The beach-style shrubs in this Portland, Maine, landscape provide a natural transition from the waterfront home’s patios and decks to the shoreline at the edge of the property. The designers kept the plantings low and loose to maintain the emphasis on the ocean views.
More on Houzz
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20. Coastal Style
The beach-style shrubs in this Portland, Maine, landscape provide a natural transition from the waterfront home’s patios and decks to the shoreline at the edge of the property. The designers kept the plantings low and loose to maintain the emphasis on the ocean views.
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Browse thousands of landscape photos
Find a landscape architect or designer
Shop for your outdoor space
1. Soft Focus
Masses of summer wildflowers border this Richmond, Virginia, pool area. The miniature meadow softens the concrete walls and pool deck and creates a pleasing contrast to the rest of the landscape’s midcentury modern feel. A trio of potted grasses pops in their black and golden yellow containers.
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