This set of granite paths, honeycomb boulders and gravel water flows provides the setting for native plants like 4-nerve daisy, zexmenia, wine cup, and twisted-leaf yucca.

The garden is designed to provide full season bloom as well as year round interest. Layered plantings of native and traditional garden plants create abudance of texture in a tight, shady space. An informal path of reclaimed brick pavers creates a sense of history in keeping with the surrounding neighborhood.

Native wildflowers and grasses remain green and lush without watering or fertilizing while the turf grass in the foreground are dry and brown.
This is an example of a mid-sized rustic drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard landscaping in Minneapolis for summer.

Island Native Morning Glory (Calystegia macrostegia 'Anacapa Pink') is drought tolerant and provides healthy habitat for native fauna. Please Note: While this morning glory is distinctly healthy for LA, the blue-purple African Morning Glory is invasive and can spread to wildspaces, Lesly Hall Photography

Lindsay's Skyward bald cypress / Taxodium distichum Skyward Spring Foliage :: Credit: Monrovia

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.

White kitchen with gray island: you can't get any more classic than that. White glass subway tile, stainless steel appliances break up the all white pallet. Chrome and acrylic barstools provide a nice juxtaposition from traditional to transitional. Native House Photography

Stone pavers and lush plantings provide a quiet place to relax off the master suite.
Small minimalist side yard stone patio photo in San Francisco with no cover

Photo by Barbara Wilson Landscape Architect, LLC A small residential, seaside property located on Fairfield Beach, Fairfield was renovated by the new owners and adapted for their active family. Barbara was the landscape architect in charge of all of the landscape elements upgrades. She designed new bluestone curving paths to access the front and side doors and designed new landscape lighting to enhance the walks. The existing trees were saved and she designed new shade and salt-tolerant plantings which were added to provide seasonal color and interest while respecting the existing plantings. Along the beach front additional native beach grasses were added to stabilize the dunes while removing some invasive plantings. This work will be phased over the next few years in an effort to keep the sand stable. Beach roses were incorporated into a hollow in the dunes. A small lawn area was renovated and the surrounding Black Pines pruned to provide a small play area and respite from the sun. Beautiful reblooming hydrangeas line the edge of the gravel driveway. Rounded beach stones were used instead of mulch in the island planting along the edge of the adjacent road planted with Miscanthus, Mugo pine and yucca. Barbara designed a custom kayak rack, custom garbage enclosure, a new layout of the existing wooden deck to facilitate access to the side doors, and detailed how to renovate the front door into only an emergency access with new railings and steps. She coordinating obtaining bids and then supervised the installation of all elements for the new landscape the project. The interiors were designed by Jack Montgomery Design of Greenwich, CT and NYC . Tree work was completed by Bartlett Tree Experts. Freddy’s Landscape Company of Fairfield, CT installed the new plantings, installed all the new masonry work and provides landscape maintenance services. JT Low Voltage and Electric installed the landscape lighting.

Hard to believe this is one month after planting....the plantings provide privacy and screening for the outdoor shower. We planted creeping thyme between the bluestone to create fragrance when stepped on.

The Tice Residences replace a run-down and aging duplex with two separate, modern, Santa Barbara homes. Although the unique creek-side site (which the client’s original home looked toward across a small ravine) proposed significant challenges, the clients were certain they wanted to live on the lush “Riviera” hillside. The challenges presented were ultimately overcome through a thorough and careful study of site conditions. With an extremely efficient use of space and strategic placement of windows and decks, privacy is maintained while affording expansive views from each home to the creek, downtown Santa Barbara and Pacific Ocean beyond. Both homes appear to have far more openness than their compact lots afford. The solution strikes a balance between enclosure and openness. Walls and landscape elements divide and protect two private domains, and are in turn, carefully penetrated to reveal views. Both homes are variations on one consistent theme: elegant composition of contemporary, “warm” materials; strong roof planes punctuated by vertical masses; and floating decks. The project forms an intimate connection with its setting by using site-excavated stone, terracing landscape planters with native plantings, and utilizing the shade provided by its ancient Riviera Oak trees. 2012 AIA Santa Barbara Chapter Merit Award Jim Bartsch Photography

Heaven on earth! All Margie could think of while on this site was, "All I need is a tent out here with this view and I'd be happy." The small weekend home on the flank of the rolling grassy coastal plain in Hollister Ranch (near Gaviota, CA) faces breath-taking panoramic views of ocean, islands, coastal plain, foothills and mountains. This place is all about a great outdoor space with just enough house for in case it rains! The pocket sized garden makes a titanic impact bringing a little intimate, livable space to the expansive scenery. Restrained plantings take their cue from the glorious setting. Sweeps of native grasses and succulents dot the garden with olive trees for shade. Dramatic succulents in pots as juxtapose the simple background. The goal was to blend a few practical uses such as wind protected dining and lounging, a hot tub and a fire pit into the nearly undisturbed surroundings. The cedar hot tub is tucked into hillside and surrounded by fieldstone walls and fish-scale flagstone. A small flash-heater provides a warm water shower under an olive next to the tub for de-sanding before plunging into the tub for post-surf warm-up. Meandering gravel paths and lyrical fieldstone "tole work" on the floor plane brings movement to the garden and ties the long narrow space together. The campfire circle (fueled by propane) and lanterns in the trees invite outdoor evening entertainment. Driftwood details - surf rack, stools around the fire pit, posts for hanging lanterns - complete this idyllic surf camp. Cowabunga, dude!

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional drought-tolerant and full sun front yard stone retaining wall landscape in Los Angeles for summer.

A cantilevered bench, constructed from steel + ipe hardwood provides the setting to observe woodland bird species + sculpture.
Example of a trendy patio design in Austin

Blue grey Festuca provides an interesting contrast to Carex pansa and mimics its mounded growth pattern. Photo: Orly Olivier
Photo of a modern landscaping in Los Angeles.

A metal mesh bridge and fountain mark the entry to the Texas French Bread Garden. The bridge crosses a rain garden full of native grasses that manage drainage, and provides a moment of pause when entering the domain of the garden. The fountain provides the sensory engagement of sound, reflection, and a cooling effect with the breeze.

Agastache rupestris / Threadleaf giant hyssop Photo: Dan Johnson for Plant Select®

The driveway leading down to the house blends indigenous and non-native plantings to provide season color and interesting textures. Photo by Jon Walsh

Front row Liriope is a hold over from over 10 years ago before a focus on native plants. The reds and lime greens of the Coral Bells are the focal plant repeated in this bed due to the year round color they provide in this shady location. A base ground cover of creeping Charlie also a lime green is used by me here showing a full sun plant doing OK in the shade. Not native, but there are no native ground covers that stay this tight to the ground that I have found.