Modern

Each project has its challenges. This one was no exception.

In many ways, the house dictated what would happen with this landscape. The owners wanted a plan that fit the modern-like setting while complimenting the angular, minimalist look of the house.

Unfortunately, the before pictures below are not the true beginnings of this job. The homeowners had already removed several diseased and topped trees all around the house along with a large thicket of shrubbery about fifteen feet high and over twenty-five feet long from the front. The neighbors remarked that it was a miracle the house even sold because it couldn't be seen from the street. Because of the lack of tree and shrub pruning, overhanging limbs and thick foliage went unattended. The entire roof was replaced when it was discovered it was rotten beneath the areas where limbs had overhung. Pieces of rotten siding were replaced when it was discovered the soil line was over the foundation of the house and covering the siding.

This house had little drainage. Trenches were dug around the house, drainage installed and gravel pathways installed around the house to make navigation easy.

Five container loads of soil and debris were removed from the front of the house and the courtyard areas, lowering the soil line to a reasonable level to protect the siding. The house had 13 boulders on site along with an assortment of large pathway stones. The stones in the courtyard were relocated to the front of the house and several boulders were permanently removed along with some of the pathway stones. This was no small feat and a crane which was removing trees was pressed into service to relocate the boulders, some over two tons. Even the small pathway stones were a minimum of 200 pounds each. Most were larger.

After the drainage was installed, and the soil, trees and boulders were removed, the remaining boulders were re-sited and the pathways were constructed. Then it was time to blow-in the soil. The low, freestanding wall was built as well as the raised bed and the graduated stone stairs. The Japanese maple was moved from its cramped quarters right beside the pathway to the airy courtyard where it became the star. The containers were chosen and filled with soil.

Then, we began to order the plants. Consisting of drought-tolerant material all the way around except for the Primula koreana, this is a landscape with tried and true plantings. All of the sword ferns which had been carefully dug and stored under a few of the many remaining cedars were now grouped and re-planted, supplemented with Lungworts, Bishop's Hats, Saxifrage, Anemones and Hellebores.

The landscape has been mulched and has already grown several inches and Gabby the cat has a new world to explore.

View Past Projects
Craftsman Renovation
No Grass!
Boggy Garden
The Rockery
Cottage Garden
Roof Garden
Native Mix Garden
Woodland Garden