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©2010 SEASONS GARDEN DESIGN LLC

Basalt Column water feature has a rill that channels water from the top stone to a nearby pool.

• older, 70's ranch house in process of 3-phase, complete remodel and major addition; the first phase is complete and the second is in progress.

• the back garden will be complete at the end of the second phase

• owners are both artists by avocation-one a glass artist and the other an abstract painter

• site is adjacent to a creek and ravine to the south and at the end of a cul-de-sac

• some existing trees were removed, due either to condition or position

• several existing trees to remain, including a very large evergreen Magnolia in the back

• property slopes towards the creek with a difference of about 18-24" in height

• project team includes owners, architect, interior designer, and builder

Back NE Corner Before

Project goals:

• create a garden with a Zen aesthetic that includes glass art (to be determined) by the owner; the aesthetic should have a definite Japanese garden feel to it without being a Japanese garden replica; interject contemporary style

• garden must complement the newly remodeled home

• inside floor finishes to come outside, where possible

• create a "pile o' rocks" feature in the back garden outside of the new master bedroom and viewed from the living room

• create a "mound o' dirt" in the front garden to coordinate with the architectural changes

• include a water feature near the new hot tub area

• include bamboo screening at the NE back corner and at the new bridge connecting the existing house to the new addition

Current Master Plan

New stone patio sits next to the new fence and black bamboo grove. A fire pit is cozied between the patio and the new water feature, at the right. This area on the plan view is in the upper left corner.

Design concepts:

A new plan:

• The plan at left is the current working plan, with the back garden in progress and approved.

• The front garden is in the progress of changing, due to recent changes in the architectural plan.

• The back garden includes a lotus pool by the deck, a stone patio with firepit, a spectacular stone water feature, custom stone walk, glass screens, 3 custom arbors at the west side, a bamboo grove and, of course, great plants.

plants for back garden:

• The goal is to keep the plant types to a minimum and work with dry shade in the northeast corner.

• The plants include black bamboo, hellebores, Evergold sedge, autumn fern, Japanese painted fern, Leucothoe 'Rainbow', Japanese Holly, Edgeworthia crysantha, black mondo grass, and Alaskan weeping cedar.