Playful Geometry: Circles and Bubbles in a Contemporary Garden

Behind a sleek, contemporary home in Los Angeles, landscape designer Greg Sanchez crafted a garden themed around "circles and bubbles" to soften the architecture's angular lines. A circular lawn framed by a bold poured-concrete strip anchors the backyard. Pavers of varying sizes appear to float like bubbles across a river of gravel when viewed from the second story. Planting beds curve between the lawn and patio, and a circular bed showcases blue Senecio mandraliscae, Phormium tenax, and agaves.

"We wanted to loosen up the garden to play off the home's angular design," Sanchez explains. The circles also serve a practical purpose: they visually connect three outdoor rooms — a dining patio, a firepit patio, and a children's play area.

Hot colors energize the palette: yellow kangaroo paws rise above blue fescue in curved beds, while golden Helichrysum petiolare 'Limelight' traces the path around the lawn. The front yard contrasts with angular drama. "It's lush, yet open — serene and tropical, with a feeling of romance," says homeowner Ann Blanchard.

DESIGN: Greg Sanchez, GDS Designs, Los Angeles (323/466-4266)

Landscape Lessons

• Repurpose building materials like used brick or broken concrete during renovations — they may find beautiful new uses.
• Divide the garden into functional rooms: firepit for relaxing, front yard for drama.
• Before removing overgrown plants, visualize their potential. Pruning can reveal sculptural branch structures worth keeping.
• Use foliage plants for texture and serenity. Place spiny plants in front yards, softer plants where children play.