Photo: Bilyana Dimitrova
Inspiration for a large contemporary rooftop rooftop deck remodel in New York

Waterfall. Photo: Bilyana Dimitrova
This is an example of a large modern full sun rooftop water fountain landscape in New York with decking.

In My Sister’s Garden-A Wistful Romp through a Drought Resistant Oasis "Spring is the time of the year, when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade." - Charles Dickens One of the great things about growing up on a farm in the boondocks is that your tribe is your family. We five siblings were as thick as thieves as we climbed trees, worked the fields, pulled fences, drove tractors, branded cattle, and planted the spring garden. We played, we quarreled, and we dug in the dirt together. By the time May arrived, we ached to get our hands grubby in the vegetable patch. Waiting for the vegetables to sprout and be harvested taught us patience and responsibility. Of course, Mom’s beautiful flower gardens would already be abloom by this time of year getting us into constant trouble because we were forever picking bouquets not only for her, but, for teachers, 4-H leaders, and Sunday masses. As we grew into adults, our love of the earth grew as well. Following in the big shoes of my Father, my brother continued the family tradition of being a farmer and has one of the most beautiful vineyards in the county. Our Mother’s love of gardening instructed the gardens of her girls. Recently I walked with my sister Debbie through her eclectic garden. There is a saying that “you can take the girl out of the country, but you can never take the country out of the girl.” With Deb, she’s never left the land where we were born. She is a country cowgirl through and through. She’s always adorned with her cowboy hat, rodeo belt buckle, and boots! She hunts, fishes, grows her food, and would have relished being a pioneer in the 1870’s. Debbie and her husband are the ultimate recyclers and re-purposers. With their barnyard of adopted animals-pigs, goats, donkeys, chickens, even Texas long horns at one time, all the weeds and garden cuttings feed the animals and the manure is then recycled back to the garden. They collect rooftop rain runoff in used wine barrels then pipe it to a storage tank to help with summer watering. It’s never enough, but every drop helps. Their garden art includes rusted plows, wooden swings, a plethora of homemade birdhouses, multiple fountains made from found objects, wagon wheels, antlers, the cutest country chicken coop you ever did see, and a sleeping shed outfitted with a bear hide, antique fishing gear, pinecones, and found treasures of every sort. From their patio they watch the wildlife on their hillside property-deer, bobcats, raccoons, turkeys, skunks, and the occasional mountain lion. It’s a playful, restful garden setting, albeit with a watchful eye for the rattlesnakes that enjoy this oasis as well. What I love about Debbie’s garden is how it reflects her unique personality, her love of the land, and her admiration for the history of the Wild West. As we ambled around the property with her happy dogs in the lead, the songbirds sang, a bevy of butterflies delicately landed on her flowers, and the koi in the pond swam to the surface to greet me. This time together immersed in this sustainable landscape nurtured my soul and brought our childhood memories to vivid life. Although we grow the same plants, shrubs, trees, and succulents in both of our yards, our designs and esthetics are completely different. And that’s the beauty of creating a garden, making it your own special paradise where you can find peace, tranquility, and restoration in tandem with the wild kingdom. TIPS TO CREATING YOUR OWN UNIQUE PLAYGROUND ⎫ Don’t over-think it! Make lists of everything you enjoy in a garden then do it. ⎫ Be conservation conscious as well as considerate of nature. ⎫ Be creative. Think swathes, angles, circles, and flow. There is nothing more boring than a box. ⎫ The hardscape must include natural materials: rocks, gravel, barn wood, shells, or anything meaningful to you. ⎫ Instead of buying art, repurpose childhood toys, old sinks, even a commode overflowing with flowers can be comical. ⎫ Be playful. When you are going to spend time in the outdoors, you want to enjoy yourself. Allow your personality to shine. ⎫ Add surprises, secret gardens, hedged rooms, anything that will enhance the whimsical and magical element to your garden experience. ⎫ Lead to a focal point or view with meandering paths, walkways, and trails. ⎫ Invite the pollinators; bees, butterflies, and birds by providing housing, nectar flowers, protection, fountains, and ponds. ⎫ Mix it up. For a drought resistant garden, consider an array of beautiful succulents, cactus, lavender, bulbs, iris, daylily, geraniums, and other plants that will add color, texture, form, and structure, yet require little maintenance and minimal water. ⎫ A potager, pots, or area designated for edibles and herbs is a must have. There is nothing better than picking your dinner from your own property. ⎫ Benches, swings, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and places to unwind, watch the clouds, savor sunsets, and marvel at the stars make your garden your home. ` What’s so fun about our family gardening experience is the sharing that we all do in giving each other clips, snips, cuttings, bulbs, and volunteers. We grow the same specimens and as we stroll and admire our handiwork, we can’t remember who gave what to whom first. As I said farewell to my sister, she handed me a hand-painted tin filled with blooming echeveria from clippings I had given her a few years before. We shared a laugh. Little did I know this would be the last walk with my sister. She died just a few days before this article was published. She would have loved to have seen her passion in print. Debbie may you garden in the heavens. The circle of life continues. Happy Trails to you, Debbie. Until we meet again... Read more: https://www.lam orindaweekly.com/archive/issue1006/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian.html Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/doc/313702488/My-Sister-s-Garden-Digging-Deep-With-Cynthia-Brian Radio Broadcast: http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/92459/porn-alarm-effective-apologies-in-my-sisters-garden Press Pass: http://vapresspass.com/2016/05/24/in-my-sisters-garden-a-wistful-romp-through-a-drought-resistant-oasis-by-cynthia-brian/ ©2016 Cynthia Brian The Goddess Gardener Starstyle® Productions, llc Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com www.GoddessGardener.com 925-377-STAR Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show at www.StarStyleRadio.com I am available as a speaker, designer, and consultant. Keywords: Debbie’s garden my sister’s garden, a cowboy western garden, drought resistant plants, cynthia brian, lamorinda weekly, starstyle, goddess gardener.

Inspired by local fishing shacks and wharf buildings dotting the coast of Maine, this re-imagined summer cottage interweaves large glazed openings with simple taut-skinned New England shingled cottage forms. Photos by Tome Crane, c 2010.

A floating bridge was constructed to get to this secret island.
Photo of a huge farmhouse full sun rooftop stone formal garden in Chicago for summer.

This is a project in Minneapolis that defines a spectacular landscape with all the bells and whistles. From an outstanding formal entry with thermal blistered limestone, to a clay paver walkway across a stream bed that flows into a pond. This landscape moves you around the home with its beauty and elegance. A rooftop patio serves as a morning breakfast nook, while still looking out over the pool area to watch the childern. For the intimate evenings around the pool a new outdoor fireplace patio was created to extend those hours spent with friends and family late into the night. The fireplace features clay brick veneers, with custom cut kasota limestone. It is a breath taking atomosphere.

Located in a residential neighborhood in Cape Cod, this home is the perfect getaway for a family of four wanting to escape the city life of Boston. The four module home was set on an existing 28’ x 50’ foundation to utilize the existing structure and expedite the construction process. The new 2,775 sf home takes advantage of its natural surroundings with an exterior stair leading to an expansive roof deck where one can bask in the sun while in awe of the views overlooking both the bay and the ocean beyond. This two-story double-wide typology is 2 boxes set on top of another 2 boxes with a single cut carved out to designate entry. To further expand the programmatic needs of the client and not the existing foundation, appendages of linear 2x2 cedar screens of living space, outdoor showers, balconies, and decks were added to the exterior. The house is clad in a contextual cedar shake siding and tied together with accents of gray cement board panels. With large expanses of glass and numerous operable windows the house takes advantages of summer breezes and blurs the division of interior and exterior. Furthermore, the exterior roof deck is complete with an exterior fireplace, creating the perfect setting to view the sunset and Salt Pond Bay beyond. Furnished with maple cabinets and dark recycled quartzite countertops, the kitchen is open to the living and dining areas and visually connected to the exterior with sliding doors opening onto the rear deck. While open communal areas dominate the first floor, the second floor is composed of three bedrooms, two and half baths and a media room that is linked to the exterior staircase leading to the roof deck. The master bedroom suite features a cantilevered balcony and exterior shower along with an alcove for a desk and chair to act as a makeshift office. Architects: Joseph Tanney, Robert Luntz Project Architect: John Kim, Craig Kim Project Team: Michael Hargens, Brian Thomas Manufacturer: Simplex Industries Engineer: Lynne Walshaw P.E., Greg Sloditskie, Contractor: Twine Field Custom Builders Photographer: © RES4, © Joshua McHugh

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary full sun rooftop landscaping in New York with decking for summer.

Exterior and Landscape Lighting of Chicago Urban Space.
Inspiration for a timeless patio remodel in Chicago

Photo: Bilyana Dimitrova
Photo of a large modern full sun rooftop landscaping in New York with decking.

Example of a large beach style rooftop wood railing deck design in Boston with no cover

Powdercoated steel & stainless steel wire sphere Size: 72" h x 20 w (c) TerraSculpture
Inspiration for a modern landscaping in San Francisco.

1st place over winner - Rooftop Garden - Chicago's 2006 "Garden in a City" professional landscape awards
Example of a trendy deck design in Chicago with a bbq area

Rooftop deck for entertaining. This deck is designed to resist ice and snow build up in the northern Montana winters by utilizing a heating 'loop' from the home with no extra heating costs. The water from the rooftop deck is also gathered to be used in a landscaping pond for aesthetics and for the children's entertainment.

Villa Balboa is a 10,000 square foot oceanfront villa on the Pacific in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The design, general contracting and project management was done entirely by JEM4 design. We were responsible for everything from rough construction all the way to the custom furniture design. This is one of the most unique and creative villas in all of Mexico. The website for the home is www.villabalboa.com .

Photo: Bilyana Dimitrova
Design ideas for a large modern full sun rooftop water fountain landscape in New York with decking.

Outdoor kitchen deck - transitional outdoor kitchen deck idea in New York with a pergola

Angie Seckinger
Inspiration for a timeless patio fountain remodel in DC Metro

Exterior dining area by Ward+Blake Architects. Photo Credit: Paul Warchol
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary rooftop formal garden in Other.