Bramble Cottage Plan
Creating an intriguing entrance: The first tier comes from a selection of trees that add height, structure, color and winter interest. The three shown in this combination all offer something unique: fragrant flowers, interesting bark or exceptional foliage. (Note red plant lined up with entrance.) Midheight shrubs and grasses are included next, repeating the colors suggested by the trees but introducing new shapes: an upright barberry and a mounding conifer and grass. These provide a pleasing contrast to the wider canopies of the trees. Finally just a few flowering plants act as accents to celebrate the season. As your guests glimpse this enchanting scene through the entrance, their curiosity will be piqued, enticing them to join you on a memorable garden journey.
reate a hedge, not of one type of plant but of several, planting them in interlocking drifts to provide colorful and textural interest. The implementation of these options will pull the eye away from the negative by providing an interesting alternative. This wall by Andy Goldsworthy begins again across the river.
Unify garden with common thread: Bring continuity through bed lines. Whether a garden is large or small, bed lines can make or break the aesthetic. Continuing bed lines from front yard to backyard is a great way to unify both spaces, even if they are separated by a fence. Notice how the serpentine bed lines in this large garden create a peaceful feeling and continuously pull the eye through the space, posing the question of what lies beyond.
Stones in "fountain" on terrace.
Japanese maples along path
Bloodgood Japanese maple, ferns, Japanese forest grass.
Ferns ferns ferns
Red Japanese maples on each side of the entrance, with low lying green shrubs. Japanese forest grass on right. Wild ginger in rocks on left.
This type of lantern, rather than a Japanese lantern, as a focal point in garden.
The wood wall and bench
Tree stump stools
Japanese sedge lining walkway
Dry stone stream along eye line to back yard.
Stone as Japanese ceremonial fountain.
Polyethylene Adirondack chairs, Loli Designs = $699
Lollygagger Lounge, Charcoal Grey by Loli Designs
The rusty colors of the flowering Restios (thamnochortus) make the pool terrace seem like an extension of the rustic house in the background. Photo- Marion Brenner URL http://GardenArtGroup.com
Flowery succulent at edge
Far side of driveway: Toyon berries and leaves contrast beautifullly with White Sage leaves in autumn. Cathy Edger, Edger Landscape Design
A Roger's Red California Grapevine is beginning to reveal its autumn color. A great plant for covering fences an walls when provided support. Cathy Edger, Edger Landscape Design
High shade provides a perfect environment for Alum Root in this Novato front yard. Its frothy blooms charm visitors in spring and early summer. This is a really good plant to put under California Live Oaks as they need very little summer water. Far tougher than it looks, and easy maintenance. Cathy Edger, Edger Landscape Design
In this Marin County garden Cleveland Sage blooms in the late spring and prefers little to no summer water. Here, it is used with other California native plants to provide a low screen in a planting mound. Cathy Edger, Edger Landscape Design
Theme of my garden: "Lichen-encrusted stone retaining walls define edges, thresholds, and overlooks, and thick slabs of salvaged granite embedded in the earth provide gathering terraces and pathways. With balance restored, brilliant seasonal drama unfolds."
Walkway with pebbles to terrace
Stone pathway to terrace
Taller wall along stairs, rocks along path..
Swaths of plants - ferns, the Japanese forest grass in lower left.
'All Gold' Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold')
Trillium
Ferns as ground cover
Grey stones under small green plants
Curved stair to terrace, ferns along the stairs
Stone terrace and shrubs on street side of entrance
Craftsman garden in Palo Alto -- Brown rather than green -- echimedium at base of house.
Ground cover in the foreground is Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon) Zone USDA 6-11, tolerates full sun but performs best in a partial shade, prefers slightly acidic, well drained soils.
Swath of cone flower
The "highway plant" for far side of the driveway.
Brown rather than green
Full Moon maple and Japanese sedge
Different sizes and functions of the stones -- steps, small rocks, uprights.
Terrace surrounded by ferns and greenery
Tree as piece of sculpture
Tree as piece of sculpture
Bench and lighting
Flagstones and rocks
Japanese elements -- maple, lantern, upright stone.
Montbresia
Q