These Mar Vistans have lived in
their house for 18 years, abiding with the tired front lawn and very basic landscaping
they inherited. For at least 10 years
one member of the household (who shall remain nameless) has pleaded to tear out
the turf and angular brick planters and install an environmentally friendly
landscape with softer lines. There was
also a desire to expand the almost unusable (3' x 7') front porch.
The aforementioned highly
motivated householder drew a sketch of what the front yard and porch could look like, with a 10' x 10'
semi-circular seating area and two serpentine paths leading to the sidewalk and
driveway including water features, sculptures, and low voltage lighting that
would give the yard a more romantic ambience in the evening.
After interviewing three
landscape architects, one stood out as being the most exciting to work
with. The landscaper installed a drip
irrigation system that has really decreased this home’s water usage, as
demonstrated by their lower bill. They
selected their favorite plants: Stipa,
Kangaroo Paws, fountain grasses, and a favorite tree Japanese Maple in several
varieties.
Their landscaper had great ideas
and vision for the garden while adding his expertise to create a cohesive
design with a Zen flair. He added to the
original plan an Infinity shaped area to incorporate a unique 3-rock water
feature and sculptural areas. He also
suggested another water feature that cascades a sheet of water out of the
sitting wall of our front porch.
The homeowners can now sit in
comfort on their outdoor lounge chairs and relax to the soothing sounds of the
waterfall. At the same time they enjoy
the serene park-like landscaping while communing with neighbors walking by,
making many new friends.
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