Landscape Design
Patio of the Week
Yard of the Week: Lush Retreat for Gardening and Gathering
A landscape architect transforms a tired Bay Area lawn into a dynamic, low-water yard that delights the senses
After a year of living in this 1931 Spanish Colonial Revival home in Palo Alto, California, these homeowners hired Verdance Landscape Architecture to make over its landscape. The yard was pretty much a blank slate at the time, featuring a thirsty lawn and some overgrown foundation plants. And while they wanted to create room for lounging, gathering and enjoying quiet contemplation, the owners also wanted to grow flowers, vegetables and fruits. Landscape architect John Black accomplished it all, designing a space that not only checks those boxes but complements the home’s architecture, uses less water and wows with color and texture.
After: The redesigned entry walk now weaves through lush, layered plantings. (These photos were taken two years after the project was completed and the plants had filled in.)
The landscape’s soft, flowing lines and bold colors and textures grew from the homeowners’ wishes and the design team’s vision. “We subtly integrated Mediterranean and Asian plant species, mixed artfully with edibles and custom hardscape elements to create abundant sensory and functional experiences throughout the relatively small site,” Black says. “We upgraded virtually every aspect of the property to invite pause, contemplation and joy.”
Throughout the process, the team turned to Houzz for ideas and inspiration. “Houzz is one of our go-to resources in almost every project,” Black says. “This one was no exception as we developed our inspiration and searched for precedents and sources.”
Masses of ‘Provence’ lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’, USDA zones 5 to 9; find your zone), Little Miss Sunshine rockrose (Cistus corbariensis ‘Dunnecis’, zones 8 to 10) and ‘Pink Sugar’ African daisy (Arctotis ‘Pink Sugar’, zones 9 to 11) spill over both sides of the path to create a sense of balance and connection between the planting beds. Creeping fig (Ficus pumila, zones 9 to 11) climbs up the side of the house.
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The landscape’s soft, flowing lines and bold colors and textures grew from the homeowners’ wishes and the design team’s vision. “We subtly integrated Mediterranean and Asian plant species, mixed artfully with edibles and custom hardscape elements to create abundant sensory and functional experiences throughout the relatively small site,” Black says. “We upgraded virtually every aspect of the property to invite pause, contemplation and joy.”
Throughout the process, the team turned to Houzz for ideas and inspiration. “Houzz is one of our go-to resources in almost every project,” Black says. “This one was no exception as we developed our inspiration and searched for precedents and sources.”
Masses of ‘Provence’ lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’, USDA zones 5 to 9; find your zone), Little Miss Sunshine rockrose (Cistus corbariensis ‘Dunnecis’, zones 8 to 10) and ‘Pink Sugar’ African daisy (Arctotis ‘Pink Sugar’, zones 9 to 11) spill over both sides of the path to create a sense of balance and connection between the planting beds. Creeping fig (Ficus pumila, zones 9 to 11) climbs up the side of the house.
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To the left of the main walkway, a serpentine gravel path leads through a vegetable garden to an intimate seating nook. (In the previous photo, the path is hidden behind the lavender plants on the left.) Lodi gravel forms an organic, permeable base.
A front yard is often reserved for manicured grass or decorative flower beds, but this one now provides much of the family’s outdoor living space. “We replaced ho-hum lawn with vivacious plantings that envelop the front walk, vegetable garden and sitting patio,” Black says.
Custom curved Cor-Ten steel planters echo the curves of the gravel path and the new stone retaining wall. “We proposed metal as a sculptural contrast to the natural stone and plantings that would define the front yard, and chose rusting steel in particular as a nod to the wrought iron window boxes that are typical of traditional Spanish architecture,” Black says.
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A front yard is often reserved for manicured grass or decorative flower beds, but this one now provides much of the family’s outdoor living space. “We replaced ho-hum lawn with vivacious plantings that envelop the front walk, vegetable garden and sitting patio,” Black says.
Custom curved Cor-Ten steel planters echo the curves of the gravel path and the new stone retaining wall. “We proposed metal as a sculptural contrast to the natural stone and plantings that would define the front yard, and chose rusting steel in particular as a nod to the wrought iron window boxes that are typical of traditional Spanish architecture,” Black says.
10 Surefire Ways to Boost Curb Appeal
Farther down the gravel path is this secluded seating area. The main terra-cotta walkway can be seen in the distance.
“This is the sunniest part of the yard, so it’s naturally a space for growing blueberries, strawberries, apples, tomatoes and herbs, but it’s also a place for adults to relax,” Black says, adding that it’s become a spot for doing homework too. Plantings — ‘Superb’ grevillea (Grevillea ‘Superb’, zones 9 to 11), ‘Barbecue’ rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Barbecue’, zones 8 to 10) and sage (Salvia clevelandii ‘Winifred Gilman’, zones 8 to 11, plus S. greggi ‘Dark Dancer’, zones 7 to 10) — and the stone wall create privacy from the street without cutting off the yard from the neighborhood. Dwarf citrus trees grow in colorful pots around the garden.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic forced school and workplace closures, dining outdoors and spending time in the garden provided the family a respite, but also facilitated and enriched their connections with neighbors and passersby — fulfilling a vital social function,” the designer says.
Boulders and native California polypody ferns (Polypodium californicum, zones 7 to 10) soften the edge of the stone wall and bring a natural feel to the space. “We worked with the contractor to select complementary boulders that would evoke the aggregate material and organically transition the ends of the wall back to the earth,” Black says.
Patio furniture: Hot Mesh by Blu Dot
“This is the sunniest part of the yard, so it’s naturally a space for growing blueberries, strawberries, apples, tomatoes and herbs, but it’s also a place for adults to relax,” Black says, adding that it’s become a spot for doing homework too. Plantings — ‘Superb’ grevillea (Grevillea ‘Superb’, zones 9 to 11), ‘Barbecue’ rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Barbecue’, zones 8 to 10) and sage (Salvia clevelandii ‘Winifred Gilman’, zones 8 to 11, plus S. greggi ‘Dark Dancer’, zones 7 to 10) — and the stone wall create privacy from the street without cutting off the yard from the neighborhood. Dwarf citrus trees grow in colorful pots around the garden.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic forced school and workplace closures, dining outdoors and spending time in the garden provided the family a respite, but also facilitated and enriched their connections with neighbors and passersby — fulfilling a vital social function,” the designer says.
Boulders and native California polypody ferns (Polypodium californicum, zones 7 to 10) soften the edge of the stone wall and bring a natural feel to the space. “We worked with the contractor to select complementary boulders that would evoke the aggregate material and organically transition the ends of the wall back to the earth,” Black says.
Patio furniture: Hot Mesh by Blu Dot
A new driveway connects to the gravel path via stone slab steps. The team replaced the existing poured concrete slab with cleft-stone-style pavers, playing off the home’s old-world character while increasing the lot’s permeability — important since the home lies in a 100-year floodplain.
The yard’s hardscape materials were chosen to convey the relative importance of each space. “So while primary areas, such as the front walk, received finer materials like tile, secondary and tertiary areas, like patios, received informal materials such as Frontier Tan flagstone and Lodi gravel,” Black says.
Driveway pavers: Old World, Belgard; steps: Autumn Gold slabs; stone wall: Mount Moriah ledgestone
The yard’s hardscape materials were chosen to convey the relative importance of each space. “So while primary areas, such as the front walk, received finer materials like tile, secondary and tertiary areas, like patios, received informal materials such as Frontier Tan flagstone and Lodi gravel,” Black says.
Driveway pavers: Old World, Belgard; steps: Autumn Gold slabs; stone wall: Mount Moriah ledgestone
The terra-cotta walk continues to the updated porch, which was designed to create a welcoming entry and reinforce the home’s Spanish-style architecture. Hand-painted ceramic tiles dot the path and line the entry step risers.
A new half wall matches the home’s stucco siding and features the same tile inlay used in the walk. Two ‘Guardsman’ New Zealand flax (Phormium ‘Guardsman’, zones 8 to 11) plants frame the front porch, with ‘Silver Carpet’ lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’, zones 4 to 9) creeping underneath.
Terra-cotta tiles: Tierra y Fuego; hand-painted tiles: Arto
A new half wall matches the home’s stucco siding and features the same tile inlay used in the walk. Two ‘Guardsman’ New Zealand flax (Phormium ‘Guardsman’, zones 8 to 11) plants frame the front porch, with ‘Silver Carpet’ lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’, zones 4 to 9) creeping underneath.
Terra-cotta tiles: Tierra y Fuego; hand-painted tiles: Arto
Before: Being on a corner lot, the home fronts two streets. You can see in this “before” photo how close some of the rooms are to the sidewalk. The existing plants also were growing close to the house, blocking views from inside without giving the homeowners any privacy while in the yard.
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After: This photo, taken from the same angle as the previous image, shows the yard’s transformation. To reach this Arizona flagstone path, a visitor would turn right off the main terra-cotta walk just before the front porch.
The steppingstone path meanders through the front yard, past new plantings that provide multiple rooms in the house with privacy and offer something beautiful to look at. “Following the romantic-eclectic theme, we wanted to use a mix of plants that would be both traditional and unexpected,” the designer says.
The plants seen here include silver carpet (Dymondia margaretae, zones 9 to 11), ‘Barbecue’ rosemary, golden shrub daisy (Euryops pectinatus, zones 9 to 11), variegated society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea ‘Silver Lace’, zones 7 to 11) and some of the owners’ favorite roses. These species, as well as the others used throughout the project, give the homeowners the feel they wanted while greatly reducing the yard’s water needs.
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The steppingstone path meanders through the front yard, past new plantings that provide multiple rooms in the house with privacy and offer something beautiful to look at. “Following the romantic-eclectic theme, we wanted to use a mix of plants that would be both traditional and unexpected,” the designer says.
The plants seen here include silver carpet (Dymondia margaretae, zones 9 to 11), ‘Barbecue’ rosemary, golden shrub daisy (Euryops pectinatus, zones 9 to 11), variegated society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea ‘Silver Lace’, zones 7 to 11) and some of the owners’ favorite roses. These species, as well as the others used throughout the project, give the homeowners the feel they wanted while greatly reducing the yard’s water needs.
15 Ways to Create a Beautiful Water-Wise Landscape
Drought tolerance was always on the designer’s mind, starting with the removal of the water-intensive lawns. “The home’s Spanish character lent itself to a palette of unthirsty Mediterranean plants,” he says.
Here we see silver carpet, a low-water, walkable ground cover, growing between the flagstones. Plants framing the path include ‘September Charm’ Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’, zones 4 to 8), dark purple ‘Amethyst Myst’ coral bells (Heuchera ‘Amethyst Myst’, zones 4 to 8) and variegated yellow ‘Butterfly’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’, zones 5 to 8) and various grasses. A weeping ‘Garnet’ laceleaf Japanese maple (A. palmatum var. dissectum ‘Garnet’, zones 5 to 8) is just visible in the foreground.
The team used hydrozones when designing the planting plan, grouping together plants with similar water needs to ensure irrigation efficiency. “This allowed us to accommodate the owners’ wish for Japanese maples, because they could be grouped with other higher-water plants and given more water in a smaller area without increasing the irrigation of the entire landscape,” Black says. They followed the same practice with the edible garden, limiting its size and grouping the plants together so there would be no need to overwater a larger zone.
An automated rain-sensing irrigation system detects moisture and adjusts the watering schedule depending on the season and weather. It uses drip irrigation, rather than overhead spray heads, to ensure that water is applied most efficiently.
Choose the Right Irrigation System for Your Yard
Here we see silver carpet, a low-water, walkable ground cover, growing between the flagstones. Plants framing the path include ‘September Charm’ Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’, zones 4 to 8), dark purple ‘Amethyst Myst’ coral bells (Heuchera ‘Amethyst Myst’, zones 4 to 8) and variegated yellow ‘Butterfly’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’, zones 5 to 8) and various grasses. A weeping ‘Garnet’ laceleaf Japanese maple (A. palmatum var. dissectum ‘Garnet’, zones 5 to 8) is just visible in the foreground.
The team used hydrozones when designing the planting plan, grouping together plants with similar water needs to ensure irrigation efficiency. “This allowed us to accommodate the owners’ wish for Japanese maples, because they could be grouped with other higher-water plants and given more water in a smaller area without increasing the irrigation of the entire landscape,” Black says. They followed the same practice with the edible garden, limiting its size and grouping the plants together so there would be no need to overwater a larger zone.
An automated rain-sensing irrigation system detects moisture and adjusts the watering schedule depending on the season and weather. It uses drip irrigation, rather than overhead spray heads, to ensure that water is applied most efficiently.
Choose the Right Irrigation System for Your Yard
Before: The partially shaded backyard featured a small flower garden and an uneven, moss-covered brick patio.
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After: The flagstone path continues through a new wood gate to this intimate seating area just outside the homeowners’ primary bedroom. Fragrant, colorful and textural plants envelop the backyard space and create a charming visual treat. “It’s the perfect spot for a contemplative morning tea or an evening glass of wine,” Black says. It’s also a focal point from inside the house.
Between the gate and the seating area, a custom bubbler fountain made from California jade adds to the ambiance. Hanging above the water feature is a koi art piece that one of the homeowners painted on a reclaimed-glass window pane.
A freestanding laser-cut-steel pergola creates dappled shade on the dining patio and shades the primary bedroom as well. “Honoring the owner’s affinity for art, we rejected traditional pergola designs in favor of a sculptural oval shape and simple lines that would contrast boldly with the home’s romantic details,” the designer says. A cantilevered canopy makes the most of the tight space.
The team angled the shade structure up to create more headroom without increasing the pergola’s overall profile. The structure’s exacting design demanded close coordination among the panel manufacturer, the structural engineer and the contractor’s welder, Black says.
Structural engineer: Mike Mahmoudian & Associates; welder: Drake Welding; shade panel: Parasoleil; patio furniture: Bistro set by Fermob
Between the gate and the seating area, a custom bubbler fountain made from California jade adds to the ambiance. Hanging above the water feature is a koi art piece that one of the homeowners painted on a reclaimed-glass window pane.
A freestanding laser-cut-steel pergola creates dappled shade on the dining patio and shades the primary bedroom as well. “Honoring the owner’s affinity for art, we rejected traditional pergola designs in favor of a sculptural oval shape and simple lines that would contrast boldly with the home’s romantic details,” the designer says. A cantilevered canopy makes the most of the tight space.
The team angled the shade structure up to create more headroom without increasing the pergola’s overall profile. The structure’s exacting design demanded close coordination among the panel manufacturer, the structural engineer and the contractor’s welder, Black says.
Structural engineer: Mike Mahmoudian & Associates; welder: Drake Welding; shade panel: Parasoleil; patio furniture: Bistro set by Fermob
Past the outdoor bistro area and just off the home’s living room is this larger lounge area. The team kept the existing brick paving due to the homeowners’ wishes and budget constraints. They reset the more unlevel areas and pressure-washed the entire surface.
Original artworks, air plants and succulent panels soften the wood fence, as do vines trained on the surface.
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Original artworks, air plants and succulent panels soften the wood fence, as do vines trained on the surface.
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Browse thousands of landscape photos
Find a landscape architect or designer on Houzz
Shop for your outdoor space
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Palo Alto, California
Landscape architect: John Black of Verdance Landscape Architecture
Landscape contractor: Modern Landscaping
Before: This corner lot had an expansive lawn before the renovation. Overgrown foundation plants pushed right up against the house, blocked views from inside and obscured the home’s beautiful architecture. (The mature trees were preserved in the renovation.) A plain driveway and an aging stamped-concrete walkway added little to the home’s curb appeal.
“The homeowner wanted to redesign the property to complement the charming Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, with Japanese influences to invoke their family heritage and a Berkeley-esque sense of whimsy,” Black says. “Given the home’s character, we nicknamed the project ‘romantic eclectic,’ and this phrase became the touchstone for our creative process.”
Specifically, the homeowners wanted to lose the lawn and make room for growing fruits, veggies and herbs, as well as create spots for outdoor dining and lounging. They also were hoping to improve the views from their home out into the garden while maintaining privacy from passing traffic.