Design ideas for a small modern shade backyard gravel landscaping in New York with a fire pit for summer.

This is an example of a mid-sized asian full sun backyard stone garden path in Boston.

Photo by Linda Oyama Bryan
Example of a mid-sized transitional backyard stone patio fountain design in Chicago with no cover

Photo of a small shade backyard stone formal garden in Seattle.

Photo by Ashley Elizabeth Ford.
Design ideas for a backyard landscaping in Los Angeles.

The garden space faces south so gets morning sun then mostly in the shade. In the summer especially it is lovely to sit here have breakfast and later in the day under the large Sugar Maple a cool spot to relax and grill. I am asked all the time are there any shade plants to use! as you can see the garden is constantly changing from spring bulbs and spring flowers to summer and fall color. The gravel terrace provides a simple and affordable surface and very European.

Built-in seating tucked beneath trees creates a quiet outdoor living space within the garden.
Patio - traditional patio idea in San Francisco

This new area of my personal garden (Woodland Garden 1) overlooks a creek and is in the process of being planted with over 600 ferns of some 20 species, in large intersecting blocks. Photo by Jay Sifford.

Walking past the pergola, the dining space is visible off in the distance. Eyebrow beds with Pachysandra and Polygonatum soften the column bases.
Photo of a large traditional shade backyard stone garden path in Chicago for summer.

Non-native Bleeding Hearts have been a civilized neighbor to the Golden Ragwort. It does not spread at all, blooms in early April in the Midwest, and will vanish below ground in the heat of July. The Golden Ragwort has been a great plant, here in full shade. This plant will slowly creep each year toward the sun shine. I take advantage of this and relocate some to different places in the yard.

Mike Crews Photography
Photo of a traditional backyard gravel formal garden in Chicago.

This thoughtful husband wanted to give his wife an Asian-inspired shade garden with deep cedar soaking tub for her 50th birthday - what a guy! They also wanted to encourage their teenagers and friends to hang out at home - smart thinking! The hot tub and deck had to be designed around large existing conifers. The addition of the overhead structure provides visual interest as well as protecting the hot tub from sap and falling debris. This project illustrates skilled woodworking and a minimalist, textural plant palette. We created two separate patios - one for outdoor dining and one with a gas fire table, perfect for enticing teenagers and their friends! Lighting from FX Luminaire highlights the Japanese Maple and illuminates the stamped concrete pathways, creating a magical nighttime effect.

Inspiration for a small traditional shade front yard stone landscaping in Raleigh.

The western beds just north of the spruce cover get shaded by a grand old Oak in the neighbor's yard. Note the 5' tall Witch Hazel to the right. More on it later.

stepping stone walkway in the modern tropical shade garden in South Florida.
Photo of a modern landscaping in Miami.

The goal of this project was to provide a lush and vast garden for the new owners of this recently remodeled brick Georgian. Located in Wheaton this acre plus property is surrounded by beautiful Oaks. Preserving the Oaks became a particular challenge with the ample front walk and generous entertaining spaces the client desired. Under most of the Oaks the turf was in very poor condition, and most of the property was covered with undesirable overgrown underbrush such as Garlic Mustard weed and Buckthorn. With a recently completed addition, the garages were pushed farther from the front door leaving a large distance between the drive and entry to the home. This prompted the addition of a secondary door off the kitchen. A meandering walk curves past the secondary entry and leads guests through the front garden to the main entry. Off the secondary door a “kitchen patio” complete with a custom gate and Green Mountain Boxwood hedge give the clients a quaint space to enjoy a morning cup of joe. Stepping stone pathways lead around the home and weave through multiple pocket gardens within the vast backyard. The paths extend deep into the property leading to individual and unique gardens with a variety of plantings that are tied together with rustic stonewalls and sinuous turf areas. Closer to the home a large paver patio opens up to the backyard gardens. New stoops were constructed and existing stoops were covered in bluestone and mortared stonewalls were added, complimenting the classic Georgian architecture. The completed project accomplished all the goals of creating a lush and vast garden that fit the remodeled home and lifestyle of its new owners. Through careful planning, all mature Oaks were preserved, undesirables removed and numerous new plantings along with detailed stonework helped to define the new landscape.

Inspiration for a farmhouse landscaping in Boston.

The garden space faces south so gets morning sun then mostly in the shade. In the summer especially it is lovely to sit here have breakfast and later in the day under the large Sugar Maple a cool spot to relax and grill. I am asked all the time are there any shade plants to use! as you can see the garden is constantly changing from spring bulbs and spring flowers to summer and fall color. The gravel terrace provides a simple and affordable surface and very European.