Visiting Joyce and Bill Furman's forested hillside garden in Portland is a calming experience. As you wander beneath the cool, lush tree canopy, you can hear the soothing sound of water running through creeks and cascading in waterfalls. Trees give the garden a sense of enclosure.

Remaking a bramble-covered, 3 1/2-acre plot was a major undertaking. Because its steep slopes made it inaccessible to heavy equipment, designer John Pruden and his team cleared the site, planted the garden, and built its structures by hand.

Creating paths and water features took 1,000 tons of boulders, rock, and gravel. An intricate, Asian-inspired teahouse was meticulously constructed of cedar and copper shingles. Hand-hewn stairs and bridges connect pathways throughout the garden. Everywhere you turn there's something new to see--a bronze sculpture, a shapely specimen plant. "Stunning details," raved the jurors. "Beautifully crafted!"

DESIGNER: John Pruden, Portland International Garden & Design, St. Helens, OR (503/780-3687)