This garden takes a blank canvas covered in astroturf and delivers a dark, sophisticated garden requested by the client. Bespoke art work is nestled amongst the dark gravel and dark clay pavers.

Два года каждодневного труда с жесткими сроками и числом рабочих до 50 человек в день, и интереснейший проект большого природного сада стал реальностью. В нем все необычно - от бионической архитектуры и оригинального решения рельефа, до открытости ветрам, речным красотам и взорам гуляющих людей. Дом идеально вписывается в существующий и созданный рельеф, давая возможность плавно подняться на террасы второго этажа прямо с земли. Панорамное остекление создает теснейшую связь с садом, а великолепный вид на реку обрамляют выразительные посадки деревьев. В этом огромная сила его очарования для хозяев. Воплощение этого масштабного проекта позволило реализовать наш прошлый опыт устройства мощения эластопейв, в котором очень важно выбрать правильный цвет гальки с учетом потемнения от смолы, создания авторских живописных водоемов с большими камнями и водопадами, правда все предыдущие были бетонные и не мельче 170 см, для плаванья, а этот спроектировали- мелким, пологим и гравийным, предусмотрев зону зимовки рыбы, облицовки подпорных стен габионами -выполнили очень качественно, с двумя видами камня, устройства ландшафтного освещения с 18 отдельными линиями включения. Из нового опыта - устройство спортивной площадки с искусственным газоном на гравийном основании с мачтами освещения, создание огорода с грядками из кортеновской стали, налитие большого бетонного моста из плит через пруд. Все растения мы заботливо выбирали в Германии, уделяя большое внимание кроне, характеру формовки, многолетники в количестве 40 тыс. мы дорастили в нашем питомнике, часть кустарников и высоких сосен - из российских питомников. В саду высажено 500 тыс луковичных, благодаря им с апреля по июль он превращается в яркое море красок и фактур. В течение года после сдачи работы на участке продолжились. Нам доверили весь уход. По просьбе заказчика мы переработали некоторые зоны, сделав их более приватными. Для этого лучшим решением оказались кулисы из стройных кедровых сосен с Алтая. Зону беседки мы дополнительно отделили от гуляющих вдоль реки посадкой большой группы формированных сосен Бонсай. Практичное мощение, мощные холмы, скрывающие забор, огромные площади трав и многолетников, высоченные раскидистые сосны, очень интересные по форме сосны Банкса, живописный водоем, отражающий дом – вот слагаемые неповторимого облика сада. Уже в июне поднимаются массивы трав, высотой по плечи, добавляющие глубину и создающие ощущение возврата в детство, в бескрайние луговые просторы. В прозрачный водоем залетают поплескаться дикие утки, а кошки интересуются его обитателями- карпами Кои, засев в зарослях ириса болотного. Основа проекта: Михаил Козлов. Доработка и реализация: Ландшафтная студия Аркадия Гарден фото: Диана Дубовицкая

This California native plant front yard is Certified Ocean Friendly, Certified Wildlife Habitat, has been featured on the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase. Salvia spathacea, or hummingbird sage lines either side of the path. There is also Salvia leucantha (purple), a small Persimmon tree and large Sycamore tree in this photo. Grape vine on porch has not leafed out yet. Rain chain instead of down spout is decorative and functional. This installation was partially funded by a turf removal rebate. --Jacky Surber

Small gardening beds, paver walkways, after.

Decorative Pea Gravel driveway edged with stone with large flagstone threshold.

The problem this Memorial-Houston homeowner faced was that her sumptuous contemporary home, an austere series of interconnected cubes of various sizes constructed from white stucco, black steel and glass, did not have the proper landscaping frame. It was out of scale. Imagine Robert Motherwell's "Black on White" painting without the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston's generous expanse of white walls surrounding it. It would still be magnificent but somehow...off. Intuitively, the homeowner realized this issue and started interviewing landscape designers. After talking to about 15 different designers, she finally went with one, only to be disappointed with the results. From the across-the-street neighbor, she was then introduced to Exterior Worlds and she hired us to correct the newly-created problems and more fully realize her hopes for the grounds. "It's not unusual for us to come in and deal with a mess. Sometimes a homeowner gets overwhelmed with managing everything. Other times it is like this project where the design misses the mark. Regardless, it is really important to listen for what a prospect or client means and not just what they say," says Jeff Halper, owner of Exterior Worlds. Since the sheer size of the house is so dominating, Exterior Worlds' overall job was to bring the garden up to scale to match the house. Likewise, it was important to stretch the house into the landscape, thereby softening some of its severity. The concept we devised entailed creating an interplay between the landscape and the house by astute placement of the black-and-white colors of the house into the yard using different materials and textures. Strategic plantings of greenery increased the interest, density, height and function of the design. First we installed a pathway of crushed white marble around the perimeter of the house, the white of the path in homage to the house’s white facade. At various intervals, 3/8-inch steel-plated metal strips, painted black to echo the bones of the house, were embedded and crisscrossed in the pathway to turn it into a loose maze. Along this metal bunting, we planted succulents whose other-worldly shapes and mild coloration juxtaposed nicely against the hard-edged steel. These plantings included Gulf Coast muhly, a native grass that produces a pink-purple plume when it blooms in the fall. A side benefit to the use of these plants is that they are low maintenance and hardy in Houston’s summertime heat. Next we brought in trees for scale. Without them, the impressive architecture becomes imposing. We placed them along the front at either corner of the house. For the left side, we found a multi-trunk live oak in a field, transported it to the property and placed it in a custom-made square of the crushed marble at a slight distance from the house. On the right side where the house makes a 90-degree alcove, we planted a mature mesquite tree. To finish off the front entry, we fashioned the black steel into large squares and planted grass to create islands of green, or giant lawn stepping pads. We echoed this look in the back off the master suite by turning concrete pads of black-stained concrete into stepping pads. We kept the foundational plantings of Japanese yews which add green, earthy mass, something the stark architecture needs for further balance. We contoured Japanese boxwoods into small spheres to enhance the play between shapes and textures. In the large, white planters at the front entrance, we repeated the plantings of succulents and Gulf Coast muhly to reinforce symmetry. Then we built an additional planter in the back out of the black metal, filled it with the crushed white marble and planted a Texas vitex, another hardy choice that adds a touch of color with its purple blooms. To finish off the landscaping, we needed to address the ravine behind the house. We built a retaining wall to contain erosion. Aesthetically, we crafted it so that the wall has a sharp upper edge, a modern motif right where the landscape meets the land.

Uber green earthy contemporary Winner of the Gold Medal and the International Landscaper Designer of The Year for APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers) Winner of Santa Barbara Beautiful Award, Large Family Residence

To further lighten the look, there are extra-large polished concrete steppers which flow from the front fence to the porch. These give the appearance of floating over the garden and tie in with the Corten steel raised planters. When the sun sets, strip lighting under the floating steppers and garden uplights work together to bring the front garden to life in a whole new way. Photographer: Mike Hemus - mikehemus.com

Perimeter gravel walkway passes this sunny border on north side of sunken garden comprised of two 60' x 12' beds. Opposite is a shade border with the same dimensions. Successive bloom plan for all season interest. Susan Irving - Designer

Photo Credit : Hartman Baldwin Design Build New construction home designed and built by Hartman Baldwin. The landscape is extensive and was a collaborative effort between HB and NC Design. We created a beautiful drought tolerant landscape that blended in well with the surrounding hillsides. To ensure a healthy, vibrant environment for years to come, many colorful succulents, grasses, yuccas and flowering low-water perennials were used throughout the property, along with non-fruiting Olive trees and Palo Verde.

River Birch clump allees

John C Magee

Modern landscape with different gravels and poured in place concrete.

Driveway flanked with tall flint and brick wall. A wisteria is trained laterally in tiers along the wall to soften the expanse

Isabel Moritz Designs works with homeowners, Architects and developers in Los Angeles to create personalized Drought Tolerant, Fire Zone Landscapes, Modern Landscapes, Beach Landscapes, Gravel Gardens, Sculptural Gardens, Transitional Landscapes , Modern Traditional Landscapes, Luxe Landscapes, French Modern Landscapes, View Properties, Estate properties, Private Outdoor Living, High End Landscapes, Farmhouse Modern Landscapes, in Los Angeles, California USA. Working in Bel Air, Brentwood, Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, Hollywood, Hidden Hills, West Hollywood, Culver City, Marina del Rey, Westchester, Calabasas and Agoura Hills.