Front-Yard Sanctuary: A Sunken Patio Under an Ash Tree

Turning a Front Yard into a Private Retreat

Homeowners Patti Bowen and Monte Atkinson of Boulder, Colorado, lacked a backyard but craved a woodsy escape. They found their solution beneath the sprawling canopy of a mature ash tree in their south-facing front yard. Landscape architect Linn Green designed a sunken patio that provides both enclosure and solves a drainage issue.

Permeable, Naturalistic Hardscape

A circular area 12 feet in diameter was excavated 18 inches deep. Randomly cut red flagstone slabs were laid on a gravel base without mortar, creating a permeable surface that lets rainwater seep into the soil. Dry-stacked moss-rock boulders form retaining walls around the patio, adding a rugged, natural look.

Screening and Recognition

Foliage plants—including a sumac with orange blooms—were placed around the perimeter to screen the space from the street. The garden earned an Award of Excellence from the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado.