Photo of a traditional full sun front yard concrete paver formal garden in Los Angeles.

Perennial shade garden with hosta, maidenhair fern, anemone, heuchera, brunnera, autumn bride tiarella
This is an example of a traditional partial sun courtyard stone formal garden in Boston for summer.

You begin your Mediterranean idyll at the base of these stone steps. Along the way your senses will feast on a bamboo forest, a lush fern garden, a Carex meadow, and a wonderful surprise: an ancient stone room surrounded by olive trees, with an Italian mosaic tile floor that has been overtaken by plants!

Design ideas for a full sun side yard stone garden path.

design | Pat Brodie Landscape Design photography | Kurt Jordan Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun front yard gravel garden path in Santa Barbara.

Walkways, lightposts, custom mailboxes, driveways, and steps.
Design ideas for a traditional garden path in Boston.

Pittsburgh landscape lighting makes all of your outdoor living spaces look nicer at night while increasing safety and security around your home.

Design ideas for a large transitional full sun backyard gravel formal garden in Los Angeles.

Inspiration for a traditional shade brick garden path in Milwaukee.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard concrete paver and wood fence garden path in Orange County.

Wooden horizontal slot gate opens to flagstone path, and large granite boulders.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary full sun backyard stone garden path for summer.

This is an example of a traditional backyard brick garden path in Charleston.

Elegant detached shed photo in Los Angeles

Due to the site constraints and placement of the houses, conventional yards are not included. Instead, we landscaped everything in front and back of the homes to be usable as a garden, a path, or some other form of outside experience. Craig Washburn Pictures

This partially wooded, acre and a half lot in West Dundee presented many challenges. The clients began working with a Landscape Architect in the early spring, but after not getting the innovative ideas they were seeking, the home builder and Architect suggested the client contact our landscape design/build firm. We immediately hit it off with the charismatic clients. They had a tall order for us: complete the design and implement the construction within a three month period. For many projects this would be a reasonable time frame. However construction delays and the coordination of multiple trades left a very short window to complete the work. Beyond the tight time frame the site required specific care in preserving the many mature surrounding trees, as well as addressing a vast grade change. Over fifteen feet of grade change occurs from one end of this woodland property to the other. All of these constraints proved to be an enormous challenge as we worked to include and coordinate the following elements: the drive layout, a dramatic front entry, various gardens, landscape lighting, irrigation, and a plan for a backyard pool and entertainment space that already had been started without a clear plan. Fortunately, the client loved our design ideas and attention to detail and we were able to mobilize and begin construction. With the seamless coordination between our firm and the builder we implemented all the elements of this grand project. In total eight different crews and five separate trades worked together to complete the landscape. The completed project resulted in a rewarding experience for our firm, the builder and architect, as well as the client. Together we were able to create and construct a perfect oasis for the client that suited the beautiful property and the architecture of this dream home.

To maintain the casual yet organized intermingling of plants in the rear shade garden with its meandering gravel path and sitting area, is surrounded by Boxwood, Azalea, and shade tolerant perennials such as Hosta, Variegated Japanese Forest Grass and Lady’s Mantle, our team provides weekly raking of gravel and monitoring of the space to ensure all plant material looks superb throughout the season.

Inspiration for a large farmhouse full sun backyard mulch formal garden in Austin.

A tight outdoor space was transformed into a natural backyard oasis. The multi-tiered deck leads onto a natural flagstone pathway with paver edging. The path opens into a circular fire pit tucked into the edge of the garden, enclosed with purple-leafed redbud trees and anchored with a mature fig tree. Dry stacked stone creates the curved bench, which also retains the elevated garden bed that wraps the fire circle. The natural cedar fence encloses the space and the custom gate becomes a garden feature of its own with a stained glass window.

Exuberant plantings spill from terraces formed by carefully positioned boulders while informal steps invite exploration in this welcoming front yard. Pollinators flit and buzz among native CA and Mediterranean plants. Beneath this joyful scene, retention swales and permeable sidewalks, paths, and sitting areas keep runoff water in the garden and out of the gutter.