This client contacted us with a two fold purpose. The first was that his yard was constantly wet no matter how much or how little he irrigated, which kept him and his pets from enjoying the yard. The second was to give him and his wife a patio that fit the space well. We designed a retaining wall that diverted water away from his property that was draining off several neighbor's lots onto his. Along with excavating and removing some poor soils, this succeeded in drying out what had previously been a saturated and largely unusable backyard. We also designed a spacious, curved layout that compliments the rolling nearby terrain. We also sealed the hardscape elements to give it a lustrous, wet look without making it slippery!

This client contacted us with a two fold purpose. The first was that his yard was constantly wet no matter how much or how little he irrigated, which kept him and his pets from enjoying the yard. The second was to give him and his wife a patio that fit the space well. We designed a retaining wall that diverted water away from his property that was draining off several neighbor's lots onto his. Along with excavating and removing some poor soils, this succeeded in drying out what had previously been a saturated and largely unusable backyard. We also designed a spacious, curved layout that compliments the rolling nearby terrain. We also sealed the hardscape elements to give it a lustrous, wet look without making it slippery!

This Berkeley property had overgrown vines, concaving fences, rotted deck, dead lawn, broken concrete, and poor drainage. After removing about 30 yards of soil from this lot, we were able to begin leveling and sculpting the landscape. We installed new concrete pathways, synthetic lawn, custom swing and arbor, Thermory wood decking with metal railings, paver patio with masonry stone wall seating, and stone mosaic water feature with stainless steel wire to match. Many elements tied together nicely in this modern Berkeley backyard.

Eradication of both cool season and warm season transitional weeds thru selective treatment. as it was at poor dormant stasis with the time of year be it mid May and should have been in mid activity, we amended soils both tending to its structure foundation and also tending to the turf types needs at one time the week prior, then properly mowed and cleaned up the turf areas.

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in San Luis Obispo

This Berkeley property had overgrown vines, concaving fences, rotted deck, dead lawn, broken concrete, and poor drainage. After removing about 30 yards of soil from this lot, we were able to begin leveling and sculpting the landscape. We installed new concrete pathways, synthetic lawn, custom swing and arbor, Thermory wood decking with metal railings, paver patio with masonry stone wall seating, and stone mosaic water feature with stainless steel wire to match. Many elements tied together nicely in this modern Berkeley backyard.

We were lucky to be contacted by a client who designed their own dream home directly abutting a stunning nature preserve. When the homeowners were considering making some adjustments to their property, maintaining the connection between the home and its natural surroundings was of the utmost importance. The couple wanted to create a space where they could drink in the beauty of the preserve. But what spurred the project was the need to make functional improvements. There was erosion on a hill sloping away from the house that needed to be addressed. Poor drainage saw rainwater was threatening the driveway and deck access on the side of the house. As careful thinkers, they came into this project brimming with creative ideas for how to transform the space into something functional and worthy of its surroundings. They called us to help tie the project together and execute it. Initial ideas were for a 3 or 4 season porch that would provide unmatched views of the surroundings, but with the functional aspects of the project, the dream porch was out of budget and still did not address the eroding hillside. Not to worry the team at Lotus was able to take inspiration from the couples’ ideas, and together, we developed a stunning space truly worthy of the nature preserve around it. PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS In landscaping, the importance of water management cannot be overstated. Our first job in the landscape design process was to improve the drainage for the site. Improved drainage protects not just the landscaping, but the home itself. In fact, estimates indicate that water problems are responsible for 85% of home repair expenses in the US annually. To ensure the drainage problems were fixed permanently, Lotus constructed a retaining wall to protect the foundation of the house. Once we fixed the broken drainage, we moved on to the slope at the side of the house. The hillside was badly eroding, making it another area of concern for the homeowners. Almost immediately, our team of experts saw the eroding hillside not as a problem, but as an opportunity. We fixed some grading issues and then planted the slope with native plants. These served a number of different functions: Native plants tied the home and its landscape to the nature preserve. The Ann Arbor area features a diverse and beautiful array of plant life and this was something the Lotus team and the homeowners were excited to celebrate. The plants’ root structure protects the integrity of the hillside. Plant roots act as anchors, gripping the earth and making the soil much more resistant to erosion. Native plants are especially good for this because they evolved alongside the native soil. Plants on the hillside provided privacy from the neighbors. Look, we love our neighbors. But sometimes, in those quiet moments life affords us all too infrequently, it is nice to have a bit of peace and quiet. While a fence could do the job just as well, a fence isn’t suited to every environment. When your backyard is a nature preserve, you want to feel as connected to the land as possible. Tall native plants add to the feeling of connectedness in a way a fence simply can’t. BEAUTIFUL RESULTS The couple had a deck and a walkout patio, but these spaces felt disconnected. Many of the solutions they put forward were attempts to address this separation. Working with our designers, we created a beautiful, tiered walkway that connected the deck and the walkout using modern bluestone from Rock Bottom Stone Supply, right here in Michigan. We added lighting features that would increase the feeling of connectivity between these spaces. We set out to create a space that would hover between the patio and the deck. This space would make our homeowners feel connected to the nature preserve around them while allowing them to feel creative and comfortable. To start, we made benches, stairs, and a built-in table. From there we finished with a cedar pergola that would give them shade in the summer months. We ended up making the pergola curved so it would relax into the space and provide a bit of the wow factor. We connected the deck and the walkout and paid homage to the slope and the preserve by installing still more native plants. All in all, the space completely rejuvenated the couple’s yard. It proved an elegant solution to a number of practical problems and served as a connection between the house and the stunning property onto which the house was built. At Lotus, we have proven our ability to provide similar solutions for many properties like this, but this one stands out. If for no other reason than to remind us, again and again, that nature and natural beauty are truly worth celebrating. Designer: Traven Pelletier Location: Brighton, Mi Materials: Limestone outcrop, bluestone patio, cedar pergola, all natural stone Vendors: Rock Bottom Stone supply in Burton, Michigan, Hobart stone in New York is bluestone supplier

Perhaps one of the trickiest things is planting a large planter with the appropriate amount of plants so that it doesn’t look too crowded or too sparse. When you first put your plants in the pot there should be soil showing in between the different plants. This ensures that the plants and their roots have enough space to grow. If everything is full from day one everything will start to tangle together, stumping growth. Over packing plants into a planter will also increase the risk for poor plant growth and disease.

Celebrating Southern California's mild climate, this hill-top residence was enhanced with an a bubbling water feature, outdoor shower, custom fencing and a Mediterranean plant palette. The fence's design, with its slender vertical lines, draws the eye toward the site's lovely borrowed scenery. An outdoor shower, nestled into a corner of the yard, beckons the homeowners to bath in the open air. Photo by Martin Cox.

This Berkeley property had overgrown vines, concaving fences, rotted deck, dead lawn, broken concrete, and poor drainage. After removing about 30 yards of soil from this lot, we were able to begin leveling and sculpting the landscape. We installed new concrete pathways, synthetic lawn, custom swing and arbor, Thermory wood decking with metal railings, paver patio with masonry stone wall seating, and stone mosaic water feature with stainless steel wire to match. Many elements tied together nicely in this modern Berkeley backyard.

In 2019, California's hills and deserts were filled with poppy and lupine as a result of a banner rain year. Millions headed out to the hills to capture the beauty. We can make it much easier on ourselves! It is entirely possible to have a super bloom in our home gardens every year. Location: Wildlife Garden | Authentic Foothills Garden at the Sierra Madre City Hall Photo: Lesly Hall Photography

With the slope stabilized, our team addressed pool renovation. After draining the pool and removing the original liner, a poorly built concrete block wall was uncovered. The solution was to straighten the wall and fill the block in with concrete and steel rebars for strength. New vinyl covered stairs were then added, as well as new pipes, returns, skimmers, pump, filter and new liner was installed. After this, the pool was carefully backfilled and tamped. We compacted the soil back around the pool in three-inch lifts to allow for the immediate installation of new pavers around the pool. This compacting process is not done by many contractors. The idea is that using compacted soil the base will not settle, so you don’t have to wait to install a patio around a new pool. Many contractors still install concrete slabs under their patio. In our experience we find this does not work well. Settling still occurs under the slab allowing the patio to crack or settle. After the base materials were finished, we installed chestnut-hued durable pavers from Cambridge (Sahara). These particular pavers have little or no color fade and the random design pattern adds interest to the patio. The pavers’ protective coating means these clients will have a clean-lined modern look. Even after being subjected to snow plowing, de-icing salts and normal wear, they will keep their color and beautiful appearance.

Nutsedge is one of the more prolific and persistant weeds we have here in North Texas. They thrive in compacted, poorly draining soils or beds that are overwatered or have irrigation leaks. If you've had an increasing problem with nutsedge then your soil is probably too compacted and may be staying too wet. For more info on nutsedge visit our ID Guide https://soilsalive.com/resources/identification-guide/nutsedge

BEFORE PHOTO. Improperly planted Arborvitae and extremely poor soil conditions limited the growth and attractiveness of these trees.
Inspiration for a contemporary exterior home remodel in New York

A former award winning Green Roof in Marin County was in need of an overhaul. The soil media, irrigation system and planting suffered from poor execution and maintenance. Owners wanted a revised plant palette that required less water and more color throughout the year. After giving the roof a serious haircut, additional soil was added, irrigation distribution was adjusted and watering schedule was severely cut back to help reduce an unwanted plant species. Plugs of native perennials, wildflowers and a variety of succulents were planted to provide year round interest with a succession of interesting flowers, foliage shapes, colors and plant heights.

photography by landscape designer Melanie Rekola
This is an example of a tropical landscaping in Toronto.

This client contacted us with a two fold purpose. The first was that his yard was constantly wet no matter how much or how little he irrigated, which kept him and his pets from enjoying the yard. The second was to give him and his wife a patio that fit the space well. We designed a retaining wall that diverted water away from his property that was draining off several neighbor's lots onto his. Along with excavating and removing some poor soils, this succeeded in drying out what had previously been a saturated and largely unusable backyard. We also designed a spacious, curved layout that compliments the rolling nearby terrain. We also sealed the hardscape elements to give it a lustrous, wet look without making it slippery!

This blue flowered hybrid has good hardiness. Fluffy flowers appear in mid-summer and early fall, and will produce attractive red seed capsules. This is an extremely drought-tolerant plant that will struggle in poorly drained soils.

This client contacted us with a two fold purpose. The first was that his yard was constantly wet no matter how much or how little he irrigated, which kept him and his pets from enjoying the yard. The second was to give him and his wife a patio that fit the space well. We designed a retaining wall that diverted water away from his property that was draining off several neighbor's lots onto his. Along with excavating and removing some poor soils, this succeeded in drying out what had previously been a saturated and largely unusable backyard. We also designed a spacious, curved layout that compliments the rolling nearby terrain. We also sealed the hardscape elements to give it a lustrous, wet look without making it slippery!