A space for entertaining with a dual fireplace as a centerpiece. It is two separate fireplaces combined into one structure. The common brick of the fireplace, seat walls, and piers was painted to match the home and maintain the historic feel of the property. The capping all around is Indiana limestone, as is the hardscaped floor and stair treads. Each transition or entry to the hardscaped space is flanked by short piers. Tupleo and sargent crabapple are specimens just outside the living space in the background with tardiva hydrangea and judd viburnum in the foreground. Within the beds are upward directed lights that reflect light off the specimens and brighten the area. The piers are lit with bullet lights to note their prominence and announce an entry. Smaller lights brighten the stairway for safety. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

Access to the lake from this charming home required navigating a steep slope. db landscaping LLC was able to negotiate this terrain and provide comfortable lake access using oversized natural stone steps and landings that meander through native plant material. The upper patio space provides natural outdoor gathering space directly off the main living area and allows for a perched view of the lake beyond.

On the quick view, the landscape for this speculative summer home development could not be more ordinary. Its story all too common. As a product of a farm’s subdivision, it had all the trappings of American residential sprawl – large front lawn exposed to street, few mature trees, clumsy entry sequence with service and front door in direct conflict, and lack of privacy. To fulfill its function as a summer and vacation house destination, the new owner understood the landscape required a transformation. A delightful and magical surprise was the property’s mature Poplar forest, abutting the new house. By removing and transplanting the Poplars, a sculpted void and solid composition established a garden structure. Introducing scale and a landscape continuum, the relocated tall Poplars erased the house front’s youthful origins. A distinctive landscape personality grew out of the skeletal structure of the Poplar groves. A bold landscape graphic emerged with simplified underplanting strengthens the Poplar’s mono-culture presentation, calming the eye and inviting further sensory observation and reflection.

Water from the covered porch flows along the copper rain chain into the river rock stream bed that crosses under the path on its way to the rain garden beyond. Design by Amy Whitworth Installation by J. Walter Landscape & Irrigation www.jwlic.com Photo by Amy Whitworth

The prominent feature throughout this landscape is the limestone boulders that was chosen to compliment the stone used to face the home. The entire property, other than directly in front of the house, which was sodded, was seeded using a combination of drill and hydroseed. Jeff Hinman Photography

This centrally located intersection to a main thoroughfare a block away was a concern because of the corner lot visibility issue for cars making a turn driving in either direction. The Quince tree bloomed annually for just a short time and was originally planted by the prior home owners decades ago. Keeping it maintained to a height of 4’ maximum, dictated for safety reasons, was still obstructing and limiting the visibility of oncoming traffic at this busy intersection. The existing roses planted in the same space as the Quince were a perfect backdrop to the new perennials and annuals planted to paint this corner with flowers. The project also included expanding the beautification to both corner areas in coordination with several other planting areas already seasonally updated on the property. With the Redwood Tree as a focal point and Roses, Daphnes, Iris, Azaleas, Fuchsias, Hydrangeas and Camilias highlighting the planting beds the addition of color, including around the driveway and side entrance, transformed the entire space. Painting With Flowers Is Adding Beauty to Benefit Homeowners & Neighbors! Kim Beber

Photos by Haz Pro Photography
This is an example of a small farmhouse drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard landscaping in Dallas for fall.

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.

Photo directly after the garden area around a patio was converted to a native pollinator garden.
This is an example of a partial sun backyard landscaping in DC Metro for summer.

The family’s wish list was extensive but clearly directed toward providing a fun place for entertaining. The downstairs family room opens to the under-the-deck bar area. The fire pit end of the "resort" caters to the kids with a movie screen, hammocks, and a cool audio system for playing great tunes. The cabana area is a comfortably furnished living space with fireplace for the adults. A large-screen TV mounted over the fireplace makes it the perfect spot for Sunday afternoon football in the fall.

Initial Plant Install with Irrigation Flags This home had zero front landscape. The client requested low maintenance, succulents and rock elements. The area was not full sun, but had significant morning light and in fact had quite a bit of shade. This was a bit of a challenge to specify plants that could thrive in mixed light, but could handle direct sun for several hours a day. We incorporated some tough but lovely plants that require very little upkeep except to trim off spent/dying leaves to keep them looking clean. By using a rock edging and heavy mulching under the plants, we further reduced maintenance. We added landscape lighting to show off the garden at night and to provide subtle welcoming light to the entry.

A comprehensive master plan for this property brought fresh vision to a time worn landscape surrounding this vintage home. Evolved through numerous iterations, the plan addressed the complexities of the site to achieve the objectives of the new owners. The property is located at the end of a cul-de-sac where a refurbished gate opens to a new gravel driveway and auto court welcoming family and friends. An expanded entrance terrace directs visitors to the front door while passing a quietly flowing fountain backdropped by lush landscape plantings. The expansive main terrace along the back of the home was redesigned at a single contiguous level. A new pool, spa and cold plunge were placed parallel to the main terrace allowing a generous lawn to bring continuity to the property. A guest house was sited to take advantage of views across the landscape with access through an adjacent olive tree shaded dining area. A detached garage with carport was tucked into the site providing buffer of a sport court and chicken coop. A hedged garden added at the kitchen wing of the home adds privacy to the side entrance and a place for kitchen gardening in a raised steel bed. Trees, hedges, shrubs, perennials, and lawns were planned to meld with desirable aspects of the former landscape.

To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.

To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.

The macadam driveway was unattractive. Decorative pavers were added to the center of the driveway to break up the macadam and expand the now welcoming front walkway and entrance.

Deana M. Chiavola
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard concrete paver landscaping in Phoenix for spring.

This landscape construction project involved the design and construction of a fully functional custom outdoor kitchen featuring Lynx appliances, Vetrazzo countertops, and stone veneer. Includes a direct gas grill and side burner. Hot and cold fully functional sink with a cocktail station. This project also features a Unilock Richcliff patio with a town hall accent. Provost Companies is a landscaping company serving Canton, MA.

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

To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.