Hardscape by California Deck Builders.

-Robin Bachtler Cushman

This California garden has a modern feel and features a bocci ball court, water elements and a fire bowl. photos by Pat Brodie

Our clients really loved the sound of water. The water feature next to the covered patio space was designed to maximum the sound

The craftsmen at Hamilton Building Supply were delighted to build this gorgeous curved walkway for one of the rooftop gardens that can be found at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. We kept in mind the sick children and their families who would be enjoying the gardens while their little ones had to remain in the hospital. This project is a study to show how a walk such as this is constructed from start to finish.

Emma Almendarez

Charles W. Bowers/Garden Gate Landscaping, Inc.

Here's a glimpse of the whimsical gardens that make this backyard an oasis in an urban neighborhood. Watered by captured rainwater. Photography: Wayne Jeansonne

Landscape Designer by Josh Ward Landscape Design Landscape Designer, Josh Ward Landscape Design, was asked to create a landscape design that was low maintenance, in keeping with this old country train station cottage in Spennithorne, tucked deep in the North Yorkshire Dales, whilst incorporating a contemporary core to the overall design. The train station had just received a beautiful high-spec restoration, inside and out. Located on top of a hill, overlooking some of the most spectacular landscapes, with a working local train line running behind the cottage, this garden design project demanded careful and sensitive design to its local environment. Wind, rabbits, chickens, low maintenance, and a holiday cottage with year round visitors were all important considerations too. The landscape design needed to champion the stunning views and not compete with them! The rolling views were outwards, upwards and all-around! Josh wanted to design a comfortable outside space that acted as a sympathetic viewing platform for the amazing views whilst also grounding the house into its landscape. Firstly the dry stone walling was extended, to enclose and divide the garden, whilst underlining and framing the view beyond. A built-in dry stone barbecue was reinvented from an old dry stone flower bed, for those balmy summer days, with lots of serving space and in close proximity to the evening dining area. In front of the sun-room double doors a gap was left in the dry stone wall to allow people to look straight into the field and onwards to the view, whilst lounging inside in comfort in the winter months. Randomly sized Indian sandstone was chosen for the main area in front of the house. The colours and random sizes worked well with the dry stone walls and a warmer tonal dimension to the whole area. To break the paved area, a low square lavender bed was incorporated, which also masked the barbecue area slightly (so as not to interfere with the view) whilst offering scent and movement too. Two further beds were created in the paved area. One along the front corner of the station house and the other on the side of the main platform steps. These grounded and softened these areas beautifully. A final, rectangular, cut-out hedging bed between the paving and gravel parking area was designed to act as a hub and divider for the west end of the garden. The hornbeam hedge was to act as a screen fro the cars and a windbreak also. In time, it will be pruned to mimick the stepped chimney pots when it reaches a suitable size. A breakfast/coffee area behind the hornbeam hedge was a second seating dining area for six people, which offered amazing morning views. The landscape design leading up to the platform included restoring the steps, fencing and installing a lengthy, stepped raised bed, from brick with a sandstone coping. The planting design for this area had to allow for snatched views of the passing steam trains and had to be drought and wind tolerant, whilst offering all year interest. Swathes of large grasses were incorporated so as to mimick the crops in the nearby field, on the opposite side of the garden and to bed the garden into the landscape more. Great winter interest from the miscanthus grasses, especially as the sun sets! The other side of the car-park/turning area became a vast curving winter bed. Both east and west ends of the garden were hedged with hornbeam. The west side of the garden was a stunning place in which to eat, play boule or just sit on the benches on the upper level, staring out at the best view in the garden. Self-binding gravel was used a the surface here, to break up the amount of paving, to keep costs down and mainly to warm the whole space up with its deep golden colour. A handful of cor-ten style steel rings punched holes though the self-binding gravel to act as beds for box balls, a weeping pear and a crab apple. The box balls mirrored the tree shapes in the distance, whilst playing with perspective, whilst offering punctuation, grounding the viewer and softening the wall slightly. The platform was re-paved and the picket fence reinstated. The final touch was adding a shelter belt of English trees such as blackthorn.

A steppingstone path through the meadow that flanks the patio invites exploration. Edger Landscape Design

The front yard of this house was overgrown and outdated. A new retaining wall was built and a narrow driveway expanded with turf-stone. A waterfall to the far right doubles as a retaining wall as well. The plants chosen provide interest year round and are drought tolerant. The two trees were left as end pieces to the planter which you see from the living room window. The metal edging was added for ease of maintenance between areas.

Pondless Waterfalls allow you to enjoy the sight and sound of running water without the maintenance of a pond. The waterfall is undoubtedly the most beautiful and favored feature in a water garden. The Pondless Waterfall has made many Kentucky water-lovers who were previously unable to indulge in the sweet sounds of falling water, very happy. It’s a great alternative for those who are trying to get their feet wet, or looking to fit a little bit of paradise into their own backyard. If space is lacking in your yard or you have safety concerns with a pond, then a Pondless Waterfall is perfect you! If you live in Kentucky (KY) Contact us to get started with your Pondless Waterfall design. Photos By H2O Designs Inc. Lexington Kentucky

Established California native greenery fills the back garden. Native, edible White Sage, Manzanita, and Catalina Cherry wrap a more traditional edible garden. The charming wooden shed offers convenient storage for outdoor furniture cushions and tools . The ability to store these items lessens the dry fuel available near the home. Placing this wooden structure at a distance from the home is also protective. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography

A mix of hardscape and softscape elements come together to create this eclectic yet relaxing suburban garden space. Photo credit - Colin Conces

lakeshore home has terraced rock walls and a fireplace with wood boxes on each side.

photo by Adrienne Link Newton

Custom trellis work with Star of Jasmine for added interest to the landscape layout.