Informal granite steps lead from the deck down to the water through a hillside garden planted with evergreen and sedum.
Inspiration for a large asian full sun hillside stone landscaping in Providence for summer.

This vegetable garden is laid out on rectilinear lines with paths creating a cross-axis. The main path is flanked by raised beds and ornamented by a gateway at each end. The gateways themselves draw the eye through and perhaps out of the garden, but mixed plantings adding colour and texture to the beds invites the viewer to stay and spend some time looking around and enjoying how rich a garden filled with edibles can be.

Situated in old Palo Alto, CA, this historic 1905 Craftsman style home now has a stunning landscape to match its custom hand-crafted interior. Our firm had a blank slate with the landscape, and carved out a number of spaces that this young and vibrant family could use for gathering, entertaining, dining, gardening and general relaxation. Mature screen planting, colorful perennials, citrus trees, ornamental grasses, and lots of depth and texture are found throughout the many planting beds. In effort to conserve water, the main open spaces were covered with a foot friendly, decorative gravel. Giving the family a great space for large gatherings, all while saving water.

Stone pathway, flower border with path, perennial garden, flowering trees, ground cover, flowering ground cover, mountain garden
Design ideas for a mid-sized rustic full sun front yard stone formal garden in Other for summer.

Jacky Surber From the sidewalk, the garden is visible over the tops of the texas privet hedge. Olive trees provide shade and privacy, while enhancing the architectural style.

Charleston Home and Design
Design ideas for a tropical backyard brick formal garden in Charleston for summer.

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

A natural stone pathway winds around the rain garden. The rain garden collects rain water so it soaks into the ground gradually. This keeps excess water from running off into local waterways.

Like most growing families, this client wanted to lure everyone outside. And when the family went outdoors, they were hoping to find flamboyant color, delicious fragrance, freshly grilled food, fun play-spaces, and comfy entertaining areas waiting. Privacy was an imperative. Seems basic enough. But a heap of challenges stood in the way between what they were given upon arrival and the family's ultimate dreamscape. Primary among the impediments was the fact that the house stands on a busy corner lot. Plus, the breakneck slope was definitely not playground-friendly. Fortunately, Westover Landscape Design rode to the rescue and literally leveled the playing field. Furthermore, flowing from space to space is a thoroughly enjoyable, ever-changing journey given the blossom-filled, year-around-splendiferous gardens that now hug the walkway and stretch out to the property lines. Soft evergreen hedges and billowing flowering shrubs muffle street noise, giving the garden within a sense of embrace. A fully functional (and frequently used) convenient outdoor kitchen/dining area/living room expand the house's floorplan into a relaxing, nature-infused on-site vacationland. Mission accomplished. With the addition of the stunning old-world stone fireplace and pergola, this amazing property is a welcome retreat for year round enjoyment. Mission accomplished. Rob Cardillo for Westover Landscape Design, Inc.

OnSite Studios
This is an example of a farmhouse shade side yard garden path in Boston.

This West Village rooftop garden features a custom ipe horizontal fence and planter, concrete pavers, and outdoor dining and sectional seating. It also includes black fiberglass planters filled with Japanese maples, bamboo, maiden grasses, hydrangeas, and knockout roses. This project was designed by Amber Freda in collaboration with Michael Wood Interiors. See more of our projects at www.amberfreda.com.

Wes Stearns
Inspiration for a traditional side yard landscaping in Charlotte.

Jef Page
This is an example of a rustic stone garden path in Austin.

Photo by Ketti Kupper
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic partial sun side yard stone garden path in Los Angeles.

Katy Sheppard - All new plantings are tougher than the two dogs, and space is left between plants and fence to allow for squirrel chasing!
Photo of a small contemporary full sun backyard gravel landscaping in Chicago.

Photo by Ketti Kupper
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic partial sun side yard stone garden path in Los Angeles.

Photo of a large rustic drought-tolerant and full sun backyard concrete paver garden path in Denver for summer.

A moment on the garden path. This garden is in its third year. Photo by Amy Whitworth Installation by J. Walter Landscape & Irrigation Design by Plan-it Earth Design

Design ideas for a transitional garden path in Austin.