Tapestry Garden

Design problem

Front yard:

1. Create a lush looking drought and shade tolerant woodland garden to compliment the house and provide evergreen bones during the winter.

2. Expand the living space in the southwest yard.

3. Find places for the garden art to be seen from the house and in the 2 courtyards.

Backyard:

1. Create patio space at the lawn level.

2. Create a safe pathway from the side yard to the backyard.

3. Find homes for existing artwork and use them as focal points in the garden rooms.

4. Create a planting plan with year-round color and texture while preserving the lake and mountain views.

5. Re-use all of the existing stone materials on site.

6. Obscure the neighbors’ house roof to the southeast.

Design Solution

Front yard:

1. Use tough evergreen ferns, and groundcovers to provide a green scape for year-round interest. Use container plantings for color and bulbs for dynamic change throughout the growing season.

2. Extend the small bluestone patio on the southwest side.

3. Focus the collection of artwork to two locations along view corridors.

Backyard:

1. Build a bluestone patio at the bottom of the existing terrace staircase.

2. Redesign, widen and level the backyard pathways so they are level. Repave paths and pergola patio with smooth stone.

3. Re-shape the lawn and place artwork on center at the far end to draw attention to the garden. Make bases for the sculpture and add lighting to create drama.

4. Create a planting plan for sun that is drought tolerant and provides year-round color and texture. Add bulbs for dramatic spring and summer color.

5. Recycle bumpy granite blocks from existing pathways to create retaining walls and stop erosion. Recycle granite cobbles into a decorative frame for the pergola patio.

6. Plant a slow growing Japanese maple in the southeast corner of the garden.