Low plantings were purposely done in order to not obstruct the views. A small lounging deck off the house directs you to either side of the cottage. Massive Limestone slabs are treated as stairs and a patio area. Mother of Thyme was planted in joints of landscape slabs creating some beautiful green edges on the stone. Look at that view!

Shirak Agresta; Sidney Michael; Annette Gutierrez; Becky Bourdeau
Design ideas for a small modern drought-tolerant and full sun front yard gravel retaining wall landscape in Los Angeles.

MONTE VERDE LITE - $1.76 / SF. Monte Verde Lite is perfect for installations that need a highly durable product. The M-shaped blade gives this product all the benefits in one product. The M-blade allows light to pass through in varying directions, eliminating the shine. The M-blade is also a performance blade, tested for its durability. The unique shape of the blade distributes pressure over several points of the turf, which decreases the impact of crush caused by foot traffic. This product offers a 78-ounce weight with 1.58″ blade height, making it a great choice for high traffic areas. The Monte Verde Lite is perfect for commercial and residential properties! This product has been installed in a variety of landscape applications, including playgrounds, sports fields, pet areas, and even rooftops and patios. For more information, please contact Jesus (theturfguy) Phone: 510-753-4773 Email: theturfguy@bwlandscapesupply.com

the circular hub at intersection of pathways from road and driveway makes for a comfortable change in direction and offers just enough ornament. plantings and pots will complete the simple look and make even more inviting. gail bishop

This photo shows two types of fencing perpendicular to each other. A solid board fence with lattice top runs along the driveway for safety and privacy. A spaced board fence runs in the direction where the privacy fence is no longer desired.

When I came to this property not only was the landscape a scrappy mess the property also had some very real grading and drainage issues that were jeopardizing the safety of this house. As recent transplants from New Jerseys to Southern California these clients were in awe of all the plants they were seeing in their neighborhood. Living on the water at the Ventura harbor they wanted to be able to take full advantage or the outdoor lifestyle and cool ocean breeze. Being environmentally conscious citizens, these clients were very concerned that their garden was designed with sustainability as a leading factor. As they said in our initial consultation, “Would want or garden be part of the solution not part of the problem.” This property is the last house on the bottom of a gently sloping street. All the water from the neighbor’s houses drain onto this property. When I came into this project the back yard sloped into the house. When it would rain the water would pool up against the house causing water damage. To address the drainage we employed several tactics. Firstly, we had to invert the slope in the back yard so that water would not pool against the house. We created a very minor slope going away from the house so that water drains away but so the patio area feels flat. The back of the back yard had an existing retaining wall made out of shabby looking slump stone. In front of that retaining wall we created a beautiful natural stone retaining wall. This retain wall severs many purposes. One it works as a place to put some of the soil removed from the grading giving this project a smaller carbon foot print (moving soil of a site burns a lot of fossil fuel). The retaining wall also helps obscure the shabby existing retaining wall and allows for planting space above the footing from the existing retaining wall. The soil behind the ne retaining wall is slightly lower than the top of the wall so that when the run on water on from the neighbor’s property flows it is slowed down and absorbed before it has a chance to get near the house. Finally, the wall is at a height designed to serve as overflow seating as these clients intend to have occasional large parties and gatherings. Other efforts made to help keep the house safe and dry are that we used permeable paving. With the hardscape being comprised of flag stone with gravel in-between water has a chance to soak into the ground so it does not flow into spots where it will pool up. The final element to help keep the house dry is the addition of infiltration swales. Infiltration swales are depressions in the landscape that capture rain water. The down spouts on the sides of the houses are connected to pipe that goes under the ground and conveys the water to the swales. In this project it helps move rain water away from the house. In general, these Infiltration swales are a powerful element in creating sustainable landscapes. These swales capture pollutants that accumulate on the roof and in the landscape. Biology in the soil in the swales can break down these pollutants. When run of watered is not captured by soil on a property the dirty water flows into water ways and then the ocean were the biology that breaks down the pollutants is not as prolific. This is particularly important in this project as it drains directly into the harbor. The water that is absorbed in to the swales can replenish aquafers as well as increasing the water available to the plants planted in that area recusing the amount of water that is needed from irrigation. When it came to the planting we went with a California friendly tropical theme. Using lots of succulents and plants with colorful foliage we created vibrant lush landscape that will have year around color. We planted densely (the images in the picture were taken only a month after installation). Taller drought tolerant plants to help regulate the temperature and loss of water from the plants below them. The dense plantings will help keep the garden, the house and even the neighborhood cooler on hot days, will provide spaces for birds to enjoy and will create an illusion of depth in a somewhat narrow space. Today this garden is a space these homeowners can fully enjoy while having the peace of mind that their house is protected from flooding and they are helping the environment.

The Gama Sonic Royal Bulb Solar Lamp Post GS-98B-S-BLK features an attractive design inspired by New Orleans architecture. Installation takes minutes and comes with all necessary hardware needed for mounting this unit and does not require electrical wiring for installation. Stylish and easy to install, this fixture is the perfect energy and money saving replacement for electric or gas-powered outdoor lighting. Standing 87-inches tall, the Royal Bulb solar lamp post is constructed of weather-resistant, rust resistant cast aluminum with a powder-coated black finish and beveled glass panes. This outdoor solar lamp post incorporates our cutting-edge GS solar LED light bulb technology and provides 360-degree illumination. At dusk, the solar lamp post automatically turns on and provides a brightness of 120 lumens in a warm white (2700K) color temperature for up to 8 hours on a full charge. Just place this solar light in a spot with ample direct sunshine and let the sun do the rest.

A small courtyard garden in San Francisco. • Creative use of space in the dense, urban fabric of hilly SF. • For the last several years the clients had carved out a make shift courtyard garden at the top of their driveway. It was one of the few flat spaces in their yard where they could sit in the sun and enjoy a cup of coffee. We turned the top of a steep driveway into a courtyard garden. • The actual courtyard design was planned for the maximum dimensions possible to host a dining table and a seating area. The space is conveniently located outside their kitchen and home offices. However we needed to save driveway space for parking the cars and getting in and out. • The design, fabrication and installation team was comprised of people we knew. I was an acquaintance to the clients having met them through good friends. The landscape contractor, Boaz Mor, http://www.boazmor.com/, is their neighbor and someone I worked with before. The metal fabricator is Murray Sandford of Moz Designs, https://mozdesigns.com/, https://www.instagram.com/moz_designs/ . Both contractors have long histories of working in the Bay Area on a variety of complex designs. • The size of this garden belies the complexity of the design. We did not want to remove any of the concrete driveway which was 12” or more in thickness, except for the area where the large planter was going. The driveway sloped in two directions. In order to get a “level”, properly, draining patio, we had to start it at around 21” tall at the outside and end it flush by the garage doors. • The fence is the artful element in the garden. It is made of power-coated aluminum. The panels match the house color; and posts match the house trim. The effect is quiet, blending into the overall property. The panels are dramatic. Each fence panel is a different size with a unique pattern. • The exterior panels that you see from the street are an abstract riff on the seasons of the Persian walnut tree in their front yard. The cut-outs illustrate spring bloom when the walnut leafs out to autumn when the nuts drop to the ground and the squirrels eats them, leaving a mess of shells everywhere. Even the pesky squirrel appears on one of the panels. • The interior panels, lining the entry into the courtyard, are an abstraction of the entire walnut tree. • Although the panel design is made of perforations, the openings are designed to retain privacy when you are inside the courtyard. • There is a large planter on one side of the courtyard, big enough for a tree to soften a harsh expanse of a neighboring wall. Light through the branches cast playful shadows on the wall behind. • The lighting, mounted on the house is a nod to the client’s love of New Orleans gas lights. • The paving is black stone from India, dark enough to absorb the warmth of the sun on a cool, summer San Francisco day.

The entire property, other than directly in front of the house, which was sodded, was seeded using a combination of drill and hydroseed. Trees were installed throughout the property as additional plantings to the Poplar trees that were original to the site and nearing the end of their lifespan. Jeff Hinman Photography

In this image you can see the effects of two Clarolux FL36 'Lawndale' lighting fixtures with 12 watt Brilliance LED Lighting bulbs proudly illuminating this beautiful work of art. This is a three story treehouse hand-crafted by Carolina Timberworks using the old fashioned and well-respected woodworkers technique known as mortise and tenon joints. The natural stone pond has an underwater Clarolux lighting fixture with a 4 watt Brilliance LED Lighting bulb which gives the beautiful effect of illuminated water falling. There is also one Clarolux tree-mounted directional lighting fixture with a 7 watt Brilliance LED Lighting bulb to give a moonlight effect.

This backyard paradise began with a muddy site, with all the grading sloping directly to the proposed poolside patio. The design for this outdoor living area would need to incorporate many challenges: * The grading issues would be corrected with retaining walls, which would create a warm yet expansive area and provide additional seating. * The pillars would require careful notching to insert the hardware for the pool gate. * The patio would need to incorporate stormwater storage underneath. * The edge of the poolside patio would require stabilization to prevent future settlement adjacent to the concrete pool deck.

Border providing a natural look for screening and directing the drivers eye to better endpoints in a development, achieved with beauty and a natural flowing grace.

The rock bands traversing the sloped drive do more than direct rainfall into the garden where it can fuel growth and resilience. They offer shallow, fresh water for pollinators and birds. On rainy days, they dance with feathered friends.

BeachHaus is built on a previously developed site on Siesta Key. It sits directly on the bay but has Gulf views from the upper floor and roof deck. The client loved the old Florida cracker beach houses that are harder and harder to find these days. They loved the exposed roof joists, ship lap ceilings, light colored surfaces and inviting and durable materials. Given the risk of hurricanes, building those homes in these areas is not only disingenuous it is impossible. Instead, we focused on building the new era of beach houses; fully elevated to comfy with FEMA requirements, exposed concrete beams, long eaves to shade windows, coralina stone cladding, ship lap ceilings, and white oak and terrazzo flooring. The home is Net Zero Energy with a HERS index of -25 making it one of the most energy efficient homes in the US. It is also certified NGBS Emerald. Photos by Ryan Gamma Photography

A lush, low-water perennial garden lines a gravel creekbed, designed to direct and slow water to avoid erosion and pooling.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel landscaping in Austin.

“I want to access the garden directly from my Great Room” We love working on old buildings. When we grew up, “This Old House” was our favorite TV show. So when our client presented us with an opportunity to work on a National Historic Landmark, we jumped at it. Fort Sheridan has two loops each with officer’s houses terminating at large General’s house on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Each officer’s house has a generous side yard with a garden. Our client could only access it indirectly from the garage or the front door. So we went to work... First we collaborated with Amy Olson, a talented landscape architect, to create a beautiful bluestone patio. Then, we lengthened a door opening and designed an all cedar porch and stair leading to this new family space. We navigated the historic building commission and moved a large tree, a ventilation supply duct and grill and parts of the underground drainage system. Our intervention fits and complements and elivens the existing historic architecture without slavishly copying it. Our client says the porch and patio “look beautiful.”

The Gama Sonic Victorian Bulb GS-94B-S is a single head solar lamp post that features an attractive 19th-century design. Installation takes minutes and comes with all necessary hardware needed for mounting this unit and does not require electrical wiring for installation. Stylish and easy to install, this solar outdoor lamp post is the perfect energy and money saving replacement for electric or gas-powered outdoor lighting. Standing 90-inches tall, the Victorian Bulb solar lamp post is constructed of weather-resistant, rust resistant cast aluminum with a powder-coated black finish and beveled glass panes. The solar powered lamp post incorporates our cutting-edge GS solar LED light bulb technology and provides 360-degree illumination. At dusk, the outdoor solar lamp post provides a brightness of 150 lumens in a warm white (2700K) color temperature for up to 10 hours on a full charge. Just place this solar light in a spot with ample direct sunshine and let the sun do the rest.

Thick bluestone steps float on concrete piers and provide a direct connection to one of four backyard patios. The visual and physical strength of the path is softened by the habitat garden. Naperville IL

very easy to maintain garden, dry river beds to direct water,
This is an example of a huge modern partial sun front yard stone landscaping in Chicago for winter.