Landscape Design
Before and Afters
A Challenging Rocky Slope Becomes a Standout Backyard Feature
Native plants, dramatic lighting and relaxed seating round out this outdoor retreat in Los Angeles
Two homeowners’ love of California’s natural landscape and their desire to entertain friends at home inspired this renovation in Los Angeles, which appears as relaxed as it does dramatic. At the intersection of these two qualities sits an imposing slope of serpentine rock, once a major grievance for the homeowners that’s now the backyard’s standout feature. The redesign by landscape architect June Scott also includes new paving, a rebuilt retaining wall, more plantings and a new lounge and seating area.
Before Photo
Before. You can reach the backyard from the house, as well as from this narrow side yard. The homeowners had tried, unsuccessfully, to plant the rocky slope and surrounding dirt but couldn’t find plants that would thrive in the minimal topsoil and on the serpentine rock that runs along most of the yard.
After. The homeowners’ interest in natural-style gardens and native plants influenced the planting palette, as did the rocky slope, less-than-optimal soil and tricky natural light. “The yard was often shady or in dappled light, but when the sun hit, it was fierce,” Scott says. She selected California native plants that thrive in these conditions.
Island false bindweed (Calystegia macrostegia), a coastal California vine, and manzanita and dwarf coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), two spreading native shrubs, grow from the top of the slope, where there is the most soil, and drape down the hill’s face.
Heuchera grows at the base of the slope, where it is seen here flowering. “In general, shallow-rooted succulents and perennials seem to do well with the lack of topsoil,” Scott says.
Island false bindweed (Calystegia macrostegia), a coastal California vine, and manzanita and dwarf coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), two spreading native shrubs, grow from the top of the slope, where there is the most soil, and drape down the hill’s face.
Heuchera grows at the base of the slope, where it is seen here flowering. “In general, shallow-rooted succulents and perennials seem to do well with the lack of topsoil,” Scott says.
Small succulents tuck into nooks in the rocky soil throughout the yard, adding color and texture to the space.
Scott revisited the plantings after the project had been completed, replacing plants that didn’t stand up to the yard’s microclimate and trampling by pets while also incorporating more plants with year-round color. “We mixed in some low-water non-natives, such as Russelia equisetiformis, which blooms nearly year-round here and whose delicate flowers harmonize with those of the heuchera,” Scott says.
Before Photo
Before. The original backyard area met the house with brick paving and an assortment of outdoor seating areas. A mature bougainvillea that grows next to the home was preserved in the renovation.
After. Scott replaced the brick paving with Solnhofen limestone pavers closest to the house, transitioning to decomposed granite farther out in the yard. The two materials continue the backyard’s romantic California aesthetic while tying in with the color and style of the home. “The design originally had more flagstone and a smaller area of decomposed granite, but it was necessary to reduce some of the flagstone due to cost,” Scott says.
Cost savings on the hardscape allowed the homeowners to splurge on a freestanding fire pit and water feature, two focal points in the project.
The two pieces, both from Asian Ceramics, are hollowed-out stone planters that the landscape team repurposed into a bubbling water fountain and gas fire pit.
New plantings and paving helped transform the yard by day, but Scott also redesigned how the space would be experienced at night. “The face of the rocks, which had formerly been one of the owner’s biggest complaints about the yard, became a huge accent for lighting. They are magical at night when uplit,” Scott says.
Wall lights: MS LED wall light, FX Luminaire
Wall lights: MS LED wall light, FX Luminaire
The backyard, filled with low-water and low-maintenance plants, now feels lush and inviting, day and night. “I do have a special fondness for gem-like projects in which a small garden is maximized and transformed, with every detail attended to,” Scott says.
Landscape installer: Coffman Morris Landscape
More
How to Find the Right Native Plants for Your Yard
Sloping Yard? Here’s How to Make It Work
Find a landscape design professional
Landscape installer: Coffman Morris Landscape
More
How to Find the Right Native Plants for Your Yard
Sloping Yard? Here’s How to Make It Work
Find a landscape design professional
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: Alyssa and Erik Reponen, their daughter Phoebe, and two small dogs
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 1,700 square feet (158 square meters)
Designer: June Scott Design
The backyard’s main hangout area consists of a fire pit and a wall-mounted, built-in corner bench, which provides plenty of relaxed seating in a relatively small footprint. The low brick retaining wall upon which it’s mounted is also at just the right height to rest your arm or place a drink or plate of food.