Hillside Yard Offers Scenic Views and Space for Contemplation

Before: Here we see the view from the yard toward the house before the renovation.

After: The design starts at the top of the yard, with a few concrete steps leading off an existing back deck to the decomposed granite path. Visitors first encounter a flagstone fire circle on their journey into the garden. The circle “sits beside a colorful planting of Mediterranean-climate natives, including olive trees (Olea sp.), western redbuds (Cercis occidentalis) and proteas,” Herman says. Wolf Creek flagstone pavers sit on decomposed granite. Moss-rock boulders surround the fire pit.

The winding path continues past the patio, encountering more boulders, low-water grasses and succulents before it leads visitors to perhaps the central and most showstopping portion the yard: a flagstone labyrinth, which the designer describes as “a beacon for quiet contemplation and meditation.”

Herman bought the labyrinth pattern from the Labyrinth Co. and installed it with Wolf Creek flagstone and silver carpet (Dymondia margaretae) growing between. Now neighbors on both sides of the yard can also enjoy the view of the garden and labyrinth.

Throughout the backyard, subtle regrading made the space more usable and enabled the designer to incorporate moss-rock retaining walls, all of which are dry stacked. Single moss-rock boulders scattered throughout the landscape add accent pieces and continuity between spaces.

Photo by Sarah Herman

Walkable silver carpet (Dymondia margaretae) grows between the flagstone pavers of the labyrinth.

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As the decomposed granite path winds around the labyrinth, it leads past a lush meadow of native California grasses and wildflowers, including yarrow (Achillea millefolium), California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus), lupine and California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), creating a verdant patch opposite the meticulous stonework. Herman added this element, as well as a natural stone fountain, as an homage to the Sierra Nevada, which she says is an important place to the homeowners.

The path continues under a redwood arbor and grape stake fencing to an edible garden at the bottom of the yard. Herman planted the edible garden with rosemary, salvias and milkweed (Asclepias sp.) to beautify the garden and attract essential pollinators that will ensure a successful crop.

California native plants and regionally appropriate exotics fill the garden, a lush and verdant refuge for humans and wildlife alike. “We aimed to create a sense of cohesion in the landscape by celebrating California’s natural beauty and capitalizing on the home’s expansive San Francisco Bay views,” Herman says. Of the many California native plants used in the garden, some of the highlights include: western redbud (Cercis occidentalis), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), coffeeberry (Frangula californica) and redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea).

“The plantings were intended to reflect the awesome beauty of the surrounding San Francisco Bay vistas and respect the horticultural requirements of this Mediterranean-climate region. This climate is distinguished by wet winters and dry, hot summers and is characteristic of a few different places in the world,” Herman says, including the Mediterranean, South Africa and parts of South America and Australia — all of which are represented in the garden’s plantings. Though the garden runs on drip irrigation now, the plan is to reduce water use (except in vegetable garden boxes) as the plants mature.

“This is definitely one of our favorite landscape design projects,” Herman says, calling it a deeply personal and meaningful space for the homeowners, reflecting their vision based on their experiences and lifestyle. “Typically, we assess all of our clients’ requirements, including ideal visions for their landscape and practical concerns. Because these particular clients were creative professionals themselves, it was a wonderful collaborative effort to help them realize the garden of their dreams.”