Where Front Yards Collide: A Photographic Study of Property Lines

We know our properties — labor over them, trim hedges, plant gardens. We know neighbors properties — envy manicured lawns or complain at dinner. But how often do we really look where these worlds collide? Sacramento pho

6 Dramatic Garden Transformations: From Backyard to Rooftop

Great landscapes look effortless — like theyve always existed. But visualizing how to transform a steep unusable slope or dark soggy side yard feels impossible. Its easy to see finished projects and assume one solution,

Wild Gardens: Bold, Beautiful, and Ecologically Alive

Walk any suburban street: treated lawns blanket landscapes; oddly sheared evergreens skirt houses. Ask yourself: is this pervasive aesthetic beautiful, experiential, useful — or the emperors new clothes? My interest: sp

5 Creative Garden Uses for Granite Millstones

Architectural salvage yards are my happy place — old windows, claw-foot tubs, vintage textiles. But my favorite find? Millstones. I love designing around a circular theme. Garden large or small, a properly sited millston

The Artist's Garden: Crafting a Landscape That Tells Your Story

A successful garden tells its inhabitants story. Like a good novel, it weaves adjectives and verbs portraying its owner — heirloom plants, collected art, clean or blurred bed lines, stacked stone or stainless steel walls

Landscape Lighting: Drama, Function, and Nighttime Magic

Landscape lighting is home improvements most overlooked project — yet among the least disruptive. No moving out, no kitchenless weeks, no single-bathroom limits, no construction debris. All work happens outdoors. Comple

The Collector's Garden: Taming Passion with Design Cohesion

Gardeners vary: artists balance vignettes; philosophers seek meaning in sparseness. Collectors? Passionately driven — newest, rarest, best. Find them at Saturday farmers markets, botanical sales, flea markets, poring ove

The Philosopher's Garden: Cultivating Solitude and Reflection

A successful garden reflects its owners spirit. Artists paint with plants; collectors display treasures; philosophers craft solitude and contemplation. Whether contemporary, Asian, or rustic, philosopher gardens share pa

California Yard Goes Water-Wise: Lawn Replaced with Family-Friendly Design

Like many American yards, this Menlo Park garden was once all lawn — and in dry California, that had to change. The homeowner wanted water-conscious dynamism without losing the kids running-around space. Landscape archit

Front Yard Renovation: Boost Curb Appeal, Function, and Value

Tired of an entry you dont love? Before starting, consider how all elements work together to create curb appeal and a warm welcome. Landscape Techniques Inc. Why Redo Your Front Yard? Your landscape is the first thing

Coastal Chic: A Bainbridge Island Entry Garden That Honors the Pacific Northwest

The coastal Pacific Northwest lacks Southern Californias dunes or Cape Cods palms, but coastal is coastal wherever it lands. On Bainbridge Island, amid anchor-and-seagull beach houses, Wittman Estes created a modern, ele

Seattle Courtyard Transformation: From Muddy Slope to Outdoor Living Room

Before Tyler Engle renovated this Seattle backyard, the owners had two miserable routes home: 30+ steps from the street, or a muddy alley slope. Hired to design a path, Engle delivered outdoor living instead. The clients

Design Your Garden Like Matisse: The Cut-Out Method

Henri Matisses cutouts exhibition headlined the 2014 art world — Tate Modern, then MoMA. After a 1941 operation left him bedridden, Matisse swapped brushes for scissors, creating gouaches découpés — bold colored paper sh

The Whimsical Gardener: Balancing Eccentricity with Design Cohesion

Gardeners are as diverse as their gardens. Artists craft color and form; travelers display collected treasures; philosophers cultivate contemplation. Then there are whimsical gardeners — bold, gregarious, unpredictable,

Stars and Myths: A Celestial London Garden Inspired by Gaudí

Most gardens solve a problem. This London garden in Crouch End began with a story — the constellations and Antoni Gaudí. Designer Sara Jane Rothwell and landscape architect JoanMa Roig Ortiz wove Greek myth and Catalan a

Creating a "There, There" in Your Garden: Designing Destinations That Draw You Out

Gertrude Stein famously said, There is no there there. She wasnt describing gardens, but the phrase haunts gardeners whove planted masterpieces — only to admire them from a patio slammed against the house. Wouldnt it be

Designing for the Extrovert: Gardens That Love a Crowd

Gardeners are diverse. Introverts craft private sanctuaries for solitude. Extroverts? They build vibrant, functional stages where the more, the merrier rules. Here, hardscape leads; plants play supporting roles. Every el

Orange in the Garden: Bold, Beautiful, and Surprisingly Versatile

Orange is gardenings most polarizing color — you either love it or hate it. Yet it has impeccable pedigree: Gertrude Jekyll, the Victorian master of color in planting, adored orange flowers. Recently, burnt orange and ta

6 Essential Elements of Classic Garden Design

Classic gardens are formal gardens defined by clean geometry, symmetry, and crisp lines. With roots in ancient Greek and Roman architecture, they reached their pinnacle in French masterpieces like Versailles. While few o

Artful Salvage: Transforming Old Doors into Garden Gates

My local salvage yard is a treasure trove of architectural relics — vintage lighting, kitchen cabinets, tile, windows, and doors. On a recent visit, I spotted the perfect candidate for my vegetable garden entry: a half-d