Fieldstone steps to the back yard are accented with hostas, ferns, and various boxwood cultivars.
Design ideas for a contemporary shade hillside stone garden path in New York.

John Cole Photography
Minimalist shed photo in DC Metro

This propery is situated on the south side of Centre Island at the edge of an oak and ash woodlands. orignally, it was three properties having one house and various out buildings. topographically, it more or less continually sloped to the water. Our task was to creat a series of terraces that were to house various functions such as the main house and forecourt, cottage, boat house and utility barns. The immediate landscape around the main house was largely masonry terraces and flower gardens. The outer landscape was comprised of heavily planted trails and intimate open spaces for the client to preamble through. As the site was largely an oak and ash woods infested with Norway maple and japanese honey suckle we essentially started with tall trees and open ground. Our planting intent was to introduce a variety of understory tree and a heavy shrub and herbaceous layer with an emphisis on planting native material. As a result the feel of the property is one of graciousness with a challenge to explore.

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard formal garden in San Francisco with decking for summer.

Ralph Mercer
This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Boston.

The natural cedar deck includes outdoor lighting, dining space, cooking area, built-in seating, and storage. A rustic flagstone pathway connects the deck to the rest of the steeply sloped garden.

Entry way to the 2 acre hillside home.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard stone garden path in Los Angeles for spring.

This is an example of a large coastal full sun hillside stone formal garden in New York for summer.

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard stone garden path in Denver for summer.

Inspiration for a large coastal full sun hillside stone formal garden in New York for summer.

L. McGrath
Photo of a mid-sized traditional shade hillside landscaping in Boston for spring.

Inspiration for a southwestern hillside stone landscaping in Denver.

Design ideas for a mediterranean full sun hillside water fountain landscape in Austin.

Inspiration for a huge transitional partial sun hillside gravel formal garden in New York for winter.

After a tear-down/remodel we were left with a west facing sloped front yard without much privacy from the street, a blank palette as it were. Re purposed concrete was used to create an entrance way and a seating area. Colorful drought tolerant trees and plants were used strategically to screen out unwanted views, and to frame the beauty of the new landscape. This yard is an example of low water, low maintenance without looking like grandmas cactus garden.

Molly Maguire Landscape Architecture. The existing plantings were edited to allow for year round color and interest. Woodland natives were added at the edges of the property extending the garden into the 'borrowed' forested City Park boundary beyond.

Rebecca Lindenmeyr
Photo of a traditional full sun backyard formal garden in Burlington.

Plant Feature: Kahili Ginger: A lower area of the this Northern California Landscape Sanctuary has a touch of the tropics with the the intoxicating fragrance of the Kahili Ginger (Hedychium Gardnerianum) that bloom late summer. And the Red Abysssinian Banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii') with its large dramatic red/green leaves. Both thrive in this landscape throughout the almost frost-free winters. Design and Photo: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design http://www.digyourgarden.com

Photo of a large traditional full sun and beige front yard and two-story brick and mixed siding driveway in Toronto with a clipped gable roof.