One of our more reputable achievements in recent years was a project in River Oaks that involved replacing a fountain that stood in the corner of the large brick wall. While only one of many elements that we added, this new corner fountain played a significant role in transforming the entire landscape. It introduced a new, more symmetrical geometry to the yard, and it helped provide a more noticeable, complimentary color contrast to that of the brick wall behind it. The existing corner fountain was a very old three-tiered fountain structure that was common several decades ago. This is the type of fountain you almost always see in old movies. In a way it projects a certain sentimentalism about simpler, more absolutist times. However, its power as a symbol fails to convey feeling beyond simple nostalgia, and because of this its use in landscaping has long since become cliché. The old corner fountain had many problems on a functional level as well. It had started rusting out several years past and was now constantly malfunctioning. This was primarily because the fountain pump had been installed underwater and had started to rust out. The lighting fixtures had begun to rust out as well, and the leakage that resulted caused them to intermittently fail. There was also a problem of too much space between the fountain walls and the brick wall around the home. Weeds and excessive vegetation had overgrown the back of the fountain, and they were beginning to overshadow a good portion of its structure. The time had come for a significant change. We therefore replaced not only the original corner fountain, but we also developed an entirely new fountain design. The new structure was shaped like rectangle whose right angles closely mirrored those of the wall behind it. The vertical walls of new fountain itself were made to slope upward on either side in a slight, inverted arc that leveled off at the top and intersected in the corner. To create a decorative color contrast, we covered most of the bricks in the front, as well as the limestone walls in the back, with a travertine coping. This gave the entire structure a soft cream color that proved a perfect complement to the red brick of the wall. Then, on both vertical walls, we installed three water spouts each and installed new fountain lights to illuminate the water from below as it fell into the basin. To add to the mystique of this experience, we also fitted the new corner fountain with a remote pump and an external filtration system that allowed it to run silently, leaving only the water itself to be heard. This also had the practical benefit of preserving the pump itself from the rust that had destroyed the original one. Of course, right angles create very sharp focal points that can often clash with other elements of a landscape. In order to alleviate this and create a sense of harmony and blended aesthetic, we planted several new types of vegetation around our corner fountain. We used dwarf monkey grass and Ardesia to create ground cover. Both species do very well in shady areas, and Ardesia also offers the added benefit of erosion control and a nice green color to further compliment the colors of the wall and the fountain. To add an enhanced vertical element to the scene, we planted a Japanese maple beside the corner fountain. This is a wonderful tree to use in landscaping because it provides both ideal proportions and color. It has burgundy leaves that provide a great deal of shade, but it never gets too tall. Because this property was so large, it was actually landscaped with two separate patio areas in the yard. Since each patio faced either one side of the corner fountain or the other, the illuminated waterspouts dancing against a limestone backdrop became the natural focal point that drew the eye toward itself as the center of attention regardless of one’s position in the yard.

Tuscan Formal Garden

Corbin Brown (@_TasteMaker_ on Instagram)

The In Japan, a tsukubai is traditionally a washbasin provided at the entrance to holy places for visitors to purify themselves by the ritual washing of hands and rinsing of the mouth. But it has found its way into contemporary garden design.

It was an honor to provide shade sails for the Agua Hedionda Lagoon foundation so that they could get the most of their outdoor learning spaces.

Fredrik Brauer

The cedar arbor defines the entry to the courtyard. Grape vine and Virginia Creeper cover the arbor and provide dense shade, as well as fall color.

Bluestone terrace and sheer descent fountain. Photo by Pete Cadieux

Plants: Largest pot: Portea ‘Jungles’ bromeliad Pots on far left and right: Vriesia ‘Ospinae Gruberii’ bromeliad See over 1000 photos of Palm Beach landscapes and container gardens suitable for south Florida on her web site, pamela-crawford.com. Pamela designs and installs landscapes throughout Palm Beach County, FL, including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, the town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Wellington. Learn how to design and plant container gardens from Pamela's book, 'Easy Container Gardens.' See a free, 24-page sample of the book at www.pamela-crawford.com in the 'Books' section. Photo by Joe McBroom Smallest pot: Sanseveria ‘Moonshine’

Catherine Bailey

This property is on the edge of a very green, unusually private space in an urban area London. The main outdoor area is downstairs and has limited space. It is overshadowed by the high boundary wall and the upstairs balcony which overhangs half of the space. The client wanted the design to include an area for seating and storage, and some greenery if possible. This design seeks to make maximum use of the limited space available in the garden. The floor is paved with large rectangular porcelain paving slabs and a central panel of decorative mosaic tiling. These gorgeous moroccan inspired tiles continue up the boundary wall to create a stunning focal point from the interior of the property. To the right-hand side of the courtyard we built a bespoke hardwood timber storage unit with a living roof filled with ferns on top. The left side of the space features a bespoke hardwood timber bench with built-in storage and a bespoke coffee table featuring an industrial-style metal frame (height adjustable with a crank handle) and timber top. We also created a built-in storage unit large enough to accommodate the client’s surfboards and other sports equipment. The front of this storage unit is faced with coloured Perspex sheets to create a clean, contemporary look. A self-contained Moroccan style water feature installed on the mosaic wall panel imbues the space with the gentle sound of running water.

This is a very small space that measures approximately 20x14 feet and gets very little sunlight. The client is from New Orleans where they still maintain a house and wanted something that would remind them of home so we went with a contemporary take on the New Orleans-style courtyard. This space was unused and the landscape died as a result of poor soil conditions, poor drainage and heavy shade long before we took on the project. Our mission was to 1) Invite the homeowner into a space they were familiar and comfortable with, and 2) Involve all of their senses (aesthetics for the eyes, water fountain for the ears, fragrant flowers and herbs for the nose). This picture is the left side of this outdoor living space which features a refurbished fountain. The client had this fountain laying in the corner of the courtyard, broken and forgotten. We had a specialist restore it and give it the patina that creates the sort of character you would expect from a New Orleans style courtyard. Again, this is a very small area that was unused and is now a permanent and regular part of this client's daily living.

After several years working in the landscape industry, Rodney Stoutenger grew frustrated with the current “status quo” most companies follow. Rodney Stoutenger started Native Edge Landscape out of a desire to change the way landscape projects work from the ground up. His dedicated hands on approach has guided Native Edge Landscape from a crew of one, to a team of 12 (and growing all the time).

Stylish Shade Sails create a peaceful outdoor dining area at this golf course in Carlsbad.

In this extensive landscape transformation, Campion Walker took a secluded house nestled above a running stream and turned it into a multi layered masterpiece with five distinct ecological zones. Using an established oak grove as a starting point, the team at Campion Walker sculpted the hillsides into a magnificent wonderland of color, scent and texture. Natural stone, copper, steel, river rock and sustainable Ipe hardwood work in concert with a dynamic mix of California natives, drought tolerant grasses and Mediterranean plants to create a truly breathtaking masterpiece where every detail has been considered, crafted, and reimagined.