Simple Backyard Retreat for Morning Coffee

Intimate Space, Rich Textures, Easy Care

At Susan Skinner and Bob Heisterberg's Glen Ellen hillside home, a small area off the master bedroom faces east, bathed in soft morning light and shielded from hot afternoon sun by house walls. "It's what we wake up to every morning," says Skinner. Free-form beds hold drought-tolerant bloomers: yellow Asteriscus maritimus 'Gold Coin', white Santa Barbara daisy, lavender. Rosa banksiae covers an arbor with yellow blooms; stone foundations give permanence. Nun's Canyon Quarry gravel crunches underfoot—perfect for a book and cool drink.