This English-inspired garden in Highland Village, TX offers stunning lakeside views using native Texas plants.
Design ideas for a rustic drought-tolerant landscaping in Dallas.

We needed a bridge to cross the dry creek bed, so I designed a version of a Japanese yatsuhashi, or zig zag, bridge. It is clad in concrete backer board. I wanted to simulate a granite mountain plateau with a boulder peak. The client purchased the concrete lantern which perfectly complements the entrance to this woodland garden. Photo by Jay Sifford

Shady side yard container plantings
Photo of a traditional shade side yard landscaping in Orange County for summer.

This early-phase Japanese-inspired garden draws from the Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist philosophies and combines the basic elements of plants, water, and rocks along with simple, clean lines to create a tranquil backyard retreat. Plant material used includes Japanese varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials woven together to create interest throughout each season.

What our clients needed: • Create a garden folly that doubles as a well-built shed for crafts and storage. • Size the structure large enough for comfortable storage without dominating the garden. • Discreetly locate the shed in the far corner of the rear yard while maintaining existing trees. • Ensure that the structure is protected from the weather and carefully detailed to deter access of wildlife and rodents. FUNCTION • Construct the shed slab close to grade to permit easy access for bicycle storage, while building shed walls above grade to ensure against termites and dryrot. • Install a French door and operable casement windows to admit plenty of daylight and provide views to the garden. • Include rugged built-in work bench, shelves, bike racks and tool storage for a rustic well-organized and efficient space. • Incorporate GFIC electrical service for safe access to power at this distant corner of the yard. • Position energy-efficient interior lighting to ensure space can be used year-round. • Switch control of exterior light from house and from shed for ease of command. AESTHETICS • Design and detail the shed to coordinate with the Arts and Crafts style house. • Include an arbor for future flowering vines, further softening the shed’s garden presence. • Simple and rustic interior surfaces ensure that the space is easy to clean. • Create an aged and softly weathered appearance, and protect the exterior siding by finishing the cedar with a custom-colored semi-transparent stain. INNOVATIVE MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION • Factory-built components were pre-assembled to allow for a speedy assembly and for a shorter on-site construction schedule. • Each component was easily transported through the yard without disturbing garden features. • Decorative exterior trim frames the door and windows, while a simpler trim is used inside the unadorned shed. OBSTACLE OVERCOME • The structure is located in the corner of the yard to avoid disturbance of a curly willow tree. • The low-profile structure is positioned close to property lines while staying beneath the allowable daylight plane for structures. • To comply with daylight plane close to fence, the roof form combines hip and gable forms, with door located at gable end. • The height of the modest interior is maximized, without exceeding the allowable building height. CRAFTSMANSHIP • The concrete slab was precisely formed and finished for ease of shed assembly before the factory-built components were delivered to site. • Precision planning meant the pre-framed door fit exactly between raised concrete curb.

This is a different view of the tea house. The low bamboo fence helps to define the relation of the tea house to the garden. The ridge roof architectural style (kirizuma) is very evident in this photo. The roof has layered cedar shingles and is topped at the ridge with Japanese ceramic tiles.

Fire Island poses many challenges for creating successful landscapes. Careful planning, preparation and amendments allowed us to create this stunning garden. While there is a lot of symmetry throughout the grounds, the garden still has a casual feel that still captures the feel of the Island. The gardens complement the architecture of the main house, pool house and surrounding patios. Photos by Jeffrey Erb

Carved into one end of this side yard where sun is actually abundant (a rarity in any city lot), the family enjoys a chance to grow their own vegetables. Using irregular bluestone flagstone for the paths, bluestone wall stone for the raised beds, and then interplanting perennials within the beds and access paths, the design conveys a rustic kitchen garden feel while still holding a sense of formality that sits well with the home.

My garden gate and Japanese maple, mid-November. Photo by Jay Sifford
This is an example of an asian shade backyard landscaping in Charlotte.

Japanese Iris in full bloom at Shin-boku Nursery Stroll Garden. They bring beautiful definition to the edge of the stone path as it crosses the dry garden.

Summer blooming perennials and ornamental grasses frame in the back yard. Design and photo by Bob Trainor
Greenhouse - large traditional detached greenhouse idea in Boston

A Beautiful Arched bridge over your water garden or landscaped pond area offers a multitude of delightful Beautify your summer sunset or winter wonderland, beautiful handcrafted Japanese Garden Bridge for your pond, water garden or landscaped yard, they are waiting for you at www.RedwoodGardenBridges.com 559-325-2597

This British Colonial theme new residence sits atop the ridgeline on the west end of Sanibel Island overlooking the Gulf. Carefully manicured dune and beach access offer breathtaking views from the main and upper patios of the residence to the beach and the sunset. A lush, tropical entry runs the length of each side property line from the road, along each side of the house, to the CCCL line and provides a dense privacy barrier from the beach access path along the east property line. Tropical bamboo, white bird of paradise, traveler palms, dwarf leaf clusia and relocated native trees and shrubs make up the dense buffer. In the front of the residence a specimen multi-stem Sylvester Date Palm anchors the center drive island while stately royal palms, foxtail palms and multi-stem adonidia palms accent the foundation of the residence. Curved coconut palms march down the driveway to the street. Individual theme gardens were created in the side yards which include a Moon Garden, Fruit Garden, Butterfly Garden, Wetland Garden, Tropical Garden and Bamboo Garden. Architectural garden elements include a Walpole garden gate, arbor and mail box with a custom house name sign attached. As one walks the many different specimen gardens, large concrete garden benches from Curry & Co. offer a place to pause while botanical plant label stakes indicate plant species and origin. A California style espalier wall with confederate jasmine vine softens the back side of the pool wall, which is visible upon the entrance to the garages and espalier on the pool side wall for trellis bougainvillea offer vertical elements to connect the house and the landscape with tropical vegetation and color. This ideal client had a specific idea for their property which we were able to visualize and bring to reality.

Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture & COCO Gallery. Post processing by Isabella Li.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary side yard stone garden path in Orange County.

This is an example of a landscaping in Detroit.

Imagine sitting on this bench enjoying the view of your colorful vegetable and herb garden.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional full sun front yard landscaping in Atlanta for summer.

Corner lot
Photo of a mid-sized industrial partial sun front yard landscaping in Portland for summer.

This early-phase Japanese-inspired garden draws from the Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist philosophies and combines the basic elements of plants, water, and rocks along with simple, clean lines to create a tranquil backyard retreat. Plant material used includes Japanese varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials woven together to create interest throughout each season.

Asian inspired garden in this Fort Lauderdale home. This is a meditative garden designed and installed by Matthew Giampietro
This is an example of a small asian full sun front yard landscaping in Miami.