On a Tiki Beach in Carlsbad: A Tropical Backyard Retreat

Robb Green's childhood love of Hawaii inspired his Carlsbad backyard transformation with designer Greg Vasilieff. Instead of a full canopy, tropical plants line the property edges and an island bed near the patio, leaving central lawn for his daughter and dogs.

Perimeter palms and timber bamboo create a windscreen that eliminates frost at this inland property. "Since these plants filled in, we've never had frost," says Green. The openness allows plenty of sun for flowers: ginger lily (Hedychium), shell ginger (Alpinia), spiral ginger (Costus), plumerias, and passion vines thrive.

Hand-carved tikis hidden among foliage preside over a sandy beach area. "With them here, now I can pretend I'm at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, one of my favorite spots in the world."

DESIGN: Greg Vasilieff

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