Project:

Private residence,

Lafayette, California

Landscaping:

Suzanne Arca Design,

Albany, California

Tasty Transformation

This once hardscape-heavy landscape is given a more natural makeover.

By Lauren Heartsill Dowdle

With an asphalt driveway covering nearly 1/3 of the total property, barren planting strips and extensive red brick areas, this California property needed a naturalistic makeover. The clients wanted to achieve this transformation by adding a garden that interconnected plantings and edible elements to create a flow of texture and color. The fruit and vegetable area consists of 10, heart redwood boxes that house the plants. Suzanne Arca Design also installed a drought-tolerant garden with native plants and Mediterranean compatible species. The crew then combined Playa boulders, Sunburst pebbles and other larger rocks with buff Lodi gravel to create a companion ground plane to the meadow lawns and rustic plant palette. The main paths are composed of Mariposa slate with tinted mortar joints. The natives, grasses and drought-tolerant turf areas are all low-water users – a must for these homeowners. With two young children and one on the way, the couple also wanted a water feature safe for the children. The crew placed a bubbling, rustic urn lit at night under a grand, old Sambucus tree.

WANT YOUR PROJECT FEATURED?

For consideration, please send high-resolution photos, a brief description and location of the project and the name and location of your business to Lauren.Heartsill@rrpub.com.