Mediterranean Inspired Modern

The homeowner of this Italian inspired villa in the Oakland hills was looking for a planting plan that reminded him of the great gardens of Italy.  

This small version of a 'Grand' Italian garden is planted with a hedge row of Olive 'Little Ollie', Phormium 'Black Adder' Lomandra 'Seascape' and Aeonium.

The sunken patio was made using left over pre-poured concrete pavers set in decomposed granite.  The raised concrete beds are planted with Mexican Sage.

Step it up!

This lovely Kensington garden got a face lift with some new hardscape, lighting and bird friendly plantings.

 

The above 'after photos' show the new Bitterroot stone step and Connecticut Full Range flagstone patio.  The plantings surrounding the patio reflect the low light woodland nature of the property.  Also visible are the drip irrigation lines waiting for their mulch covering as well as 'Contempo' path lights from Hinkley Lighting.

 

These 'before photos' show the concrete patio that isn't visible in the 'after' shots.  The view and access to the lower garden is much more inviting to people and birds alike.

Straight and Narrow

This garden redesign posed us with the challenge of turning a narrow space into usable patio space that could accommodate a future ping pong table and a seating area that overlooks the garden space.

Working with concrete we designed a patio space that transitions into the ping pong area  Between each pad are 31/2" cut outs to accommodate wooly thyme ground cover.  The planting space along the fence contain Podocarpus screening trees.

The patio as seen from the house facing the 'casita'.

More to come this spring...

Material Girl

This garden redesign project in El Cerrito makes the most of all the wonderful landscape materials we have available to us.

Here you see the materials used in the garden: Steel containers on the deck and patio, south american hardwood deck, concrete stepping stones and landing, decomposed granite patio and cedar veggie box and hot tub.

The challenge in working with so many materials is blending them together so they look and feel coherent in the garden space.

The concrete stepping stones lead to the cedar hot tub.  In the distance is a mounded planting space with a dg path leading to a seating area.  The plants chosen for the mound are meant to draw birds, bees and butterflies that can be enjoyed from the small seating area in the corner.

A number of small trees were added to provide year round interest in the garden.

A succulent bowl inserted in the mound.

The small courtyard outside the home office offers a nice respite from the work to do inside.