We transformed this Carlsbad front yard from the traditional developer front lawn to a drought tolerant dynamic and inviting front yard living area. Creating an enclosed front patio allowed the owner to leave the front door open and have her dogs out front without having to worry about them running off. Check out the photos below.
Landscape scenes read better and have more impact if there is a focal point, a singular place where the eye goes to. Sometimes focal plants can make a statement with a big exclamation point as in the case of this pictured Nolina nelsoni. The plant has been in this particular Solana Beach garden for a good six years now and is fulfilling (exceeding!) the role that I had envisioned for it in this landscape at its inception. As it is with so many…
Re-doing your front yard with drought tolerant landscaping yields more value than you might imagine. A well executed front yard landscape can have positive effects on your home value, your neighborhood, the broader environment, your social interactions and your quality of life. A new front landscape can significantly improve the curb appeal of your home. Very often the outside of the house sells the inside. Make a good first impression of your home by making the approach to the front…
A bit over two years ago we were called in to help a client, who was interested in drought tolerant landscaping, and was struggling with a poorly performing lawn. We had a clear solution for them, and advised to… “remove your turf”! Now instead of a thirsty and marginal grass area these folks enjoy an extended outdoor living space with lush drought tolerant plantings and a useful flagstone patio. We were called back to check in. The garden had filled in beautifully and…
In early June we completed planting a new garden in Del Mar. Even in the last four months the landscape has really started to fill in. These photos were taken in late October. Enjoy.
We are just wrapping up planting on the landscape I posted pictures of a month ago. We planted a generous spread of native dune sedge which will spreads by rhizomes to form a fairly drought tolerant lawn substitute. A redwood pergola houses a bronze bas-relief sculpture. Mature toyon and lemonade berry screen the backyard from the adjacent open space. We created a new walkway to the front door marked by a redwood arbor. A permeable gravel driveway replaced a degraded combination…
Rocks are in and plants are arriving! Lots of natives, Ceanothus, Toyon, Salvias mixed with select exotics to fulfill the program. The landscape will feature a native sedge lawn area that serves the some of the functions of a traditional lawn while using less water and requiring less mowing. In addition to all the great planting we’ve already built new perimeter fencing and getting ready to install a new permeable driveway, two concrete patios, a simple arbor and pergola on…
In early August we completed a new modern/asian inspired garden. Photos of newly planted gardens are seldom flattering but I’m pleased with the way this one looks even though it’s less than a month old. The patio and garden were designed to look compelling from above, enticing guests down into the shaded and secluded garden. The cool and private garden provide a marked contrast from the exposure and expansive views above. The owners enjoy entertaining on the decks of…
We’re just getting started on a great new project in Del Mar. The beautiful house was designed by Sanctuary Architects . We look forward to anchoring the building with a well thought out landscape. Notable features include lots of fruit (citrus, peaches & blueberries) vegetable boxes and drip irrigated drought tolerant plantings. We’re assembling a choice selection of plants from California and South Africa to set off the architecture. The site will have a state of the art drainage system that…
I received a call last week from the folks over at the Christian Science Reading Room in Encinitas asking me to drop by and check in with them about the landscape we installed last year. I was pleased to see how well things have grown in. The project was a collaborative effort. Hubbell and Hubbell were the architects for the building. William Joyce Design invited me to collaborate on the hardscape and planting design. DRP Construction was the general contractor for the…
