Forest Sanctuary
A barren patch of lawn becomes a wooded retreat.
Standing in a patch of withered grass, my client looked less than hopeful…
A garden almost seemed out of the question with a two-year old child and an aging golden retriever. “We need low-maintenance,” they said, uttering a frequently repeated phrase from clients mitigating their hopes against reality. “No problem,” I said, “we can do that.”
We opted for a simple design incorporating native plants like Vine Maple, Evergreen Huckleberry, Red-flowering Currant and PGM Rhododendron that would provide color and form year-round, even in the shade of the towering Redwoods above. For immediate structure, we added a few artfully placed boulders and some large pots that provided a pop of color to an otherwise empty cobblestone patio. Finally, we installed a decomposed granite pathway that flowed around a simple, zero-maintenance stone water bowl.
The result exceeded the clients expectations, describing it as “and oasis,” and “our own little forest.” In the coming years, the garden will continue to grow into a healthy maturity without heavy demands on the busy family’s time. Excepting, that is, the time to enjoy it’s beauty and the oasis that it generously provides.
“Working with Sue on our project was a delight! We came in with few ideas of what we wanted and after asking us questions, Sue came up with a design that knocked it out of the park!
We went from a soggy grass patch to a luscious green oasis that feels like we are in our own little forest full of native plants and trees. Sue was professional and resourceful throughout the entire process and stayed within our budget to make it happen.”
— R. Hodgson