LANDSCAPES
As a plant enthusiast, I have a growing collection of over 900 hundred plants in my database. When creating my plant palettes, I work carefully to incorporate a variety of leaf textures, achieve a balance of evergreen and deciduous plants, and make blossom and foliage colors work in harmony.
California's new Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) mandates low water use in landscapes. My extensive knowledge of drought-tolerant plants, irrigation, and design helps me create beautiful landscapes that comply with this ordinance, and I can create permit packages specific to it.
California's new Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) mandates low water use in landscapes. My extensive knowledge of drought-tolerant plants, irrigation, and design helps me create beautiful landscapes that comply with this ordinance, and I can create permit packages specific to it.
Lawnless landscapeI had designed the pool at this home for the previous owner, and the new owner wanted a new landscape without a lawn. Designing yards without lawns is a bit trickier; they need more walking paths and visual rests which the lawn provides naturally, and the design has to hit the focal points strongly. When these rules are followed, you end up with a dynamic landscape like this one.
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Traditional landscapeThis client wanted a traditional landscape for their new home. The nucleus of the front landscape is an open-room court featuring a fire pit and arbor roof with stone columns. Its seat walls are made of quartz slate and brick that match the house. The plantings in the front are also traditional: tree roses, poodle privet, white ground cover roses, and white crepe myrtle. The back yard is half hers and half his, with the court positioned between his vegetable garden and her pool.
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Cottage landscape (Tara's)My yard is clearly owned by a plant lover. There are plants everywhere, with over 30 pots spilling over with specialty plants. The yard is a network of small hidden "rooms" connected by winding paths. Each room has seating, even if it's just a boulder. Small vignettes greet you at every turn, punctuated by show-stopping pots and my husband Roger Madison’s metal garden art.
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Large estateI was brought in on this front yard estate to address the large water bill. The homeowner had no love for their front yard, so we walked the Davis Arboretum for inspiration. The crews and I started by sculpting the land with large mounds, low swells, and flat areas for the decomposed granite paths. Because of the scale of the site, everything we added needed to be large. Of the 50 boulders added to the site, some were so enormous that we doubted the Bobcat could lift them! The client was thrilled with the final product: their new landscape was not only low-water, but also beautiful and inviting.
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