This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard stone formal garden in New York.

The design brief for this garden was to create an inviting entry with a woodland feel that would complement the home's earthy color scheme and thoughtful architectural details. Majestic Sequoia sempervirens 'Aptos Blue' (Aptos Blue Coastal Redwood), with its pendant deep blue-green branches, shields the expanded porch from the afternoon sun. Selected for its ability to look good in sun or shade, Carex divulsa (Berkeley sedge) makes a lush ground cover, weaving through the trees and along the new slate walk. In fall, muhlenbergia capillaris explodes with feathery pink plumes. Photos by Martin Cox Photography.

Stephen Haus
Photo of a mid-sized tropical full sun backyard stone garden path in Hawaii.

Photo of a traditional backyard gravel formal garden in Denver.

Design ideas for a traditional backyard gravel formal garden in Denver.

image: Travis Rhoads Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized mid-century modern partial sun courtyard gravel formal garden in San Francisco.

Whether large hand-picked granite boulders or smaller hand-cut flag stones, these stone steps gracefully lead over sloping hillsides planted with lush perennial to inviting destinations. Photography: Laurel Stacy Photography

Maria von Brincken
Inspiration for a large traditional partial sun courtyard stone garden path in Boston for spring.

Connecting point A to point B is one reason for a pathway through the yard, but as we see it these are the connections between the “rooms” of your garden. We design our outdoor living plans to have all of the functions that a home’s floor plan has inside. Each space is connected by a pathway that lures the visitor comfortably around the corner or through an archway looking forward to what the next garden destination has to offer.

Design ideas for a contemporary backyard stone formal garden in Minneapolis.

Garden - Newport Coast Mansion
Design ideas for a traditional partial sun front yard brick formal garden in Orange County.

Connecting point A to point B is one reason for a pathway through the yard, but as we see it these are the connections between the “rooms” of your garden. We design our outdoor living plans to have all of the functions that a home’s floor plan has inside. Each space is connected by a pathway that lures the visitor comfortably around the corner or through an archway looking forward to what the next garden destination has to offer.

Photo of a mid-sized craftsman full sun backyard stone driveway in Vancouver for spring.

Design ideas for a large mediterranean full sun and drought-tolerant front yard gravel garden path in San Francisco for spring.

Inspiration for a large traditional partial sun backyard stone garden path in Dallas.

A new Flagstone path links the new garden space to an existing garden gate and the homes primary entrance (out of picture right) - Jeff Stapleton
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional full sun side yard concrete paver formal garden.

These granite and manufactured bluestone steps make for a great path through this multi-level garden. Cobblestone edging bookends the steps adding interest and support.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern full sun backyard stone formal garden in Minneapolis for summer.

Seahorse birdbath with succulents
Inspiration for a contemporary courtyard water fountain landscape in Orange County.