By highlighting textural differences in leaf shape and size, the garden takes on a distinct, dynamic personality changing with the perspective of the observer.

The following 3 pictures show this simple design I did for the entry area to a typical Portland home come together.

The home-owner was forced to walk across the lawn to reach the front steps after getting out of the car. This caused the soil to be compacted, resulting in a bare spot where grass would not grow. The muddy, soggy mess was also a safety hazard during our dark and rainy winters. We added a small flagstone "landing" (see 2 pictures below) to eliminate those issues.

The lawn used to meet up with the driveway, requiring much more maintenance to keep it mowed, edged and looking nice. The new plants need very little water or other care once established in order to thrive for many years.

The property line separating these 2 lots in SW Portland runs between the right edge of the driveway and the bottom of the rock wall. Rather than erect a fence as a solid visual screen, I designed the plantings to create a living privacy wall using a variety of textures and colors.

The placement of just a few decorative boulders in a planting bed can add interest and depth. The boulders are highlighted by low-growing plants and the variety in materials feels more natural.

The sound of trickling water from this bubbler rock fountain helps mask some of the sounds coming from an outdoor patio. We are training evergreen Jasmine to a trellis behind it to create a lush green wall which will also absorb some of the noise. The patio is in front of The Standard, a bar located in a residential neighborhood at 22nd and E Burnside.

A step-stone walkway made from recycled faux-flagstone tiles.

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Black-eyed Susans, ornamental grasses and large boulders highlight this stairway meandering into the surrounding woods for a shady retreat. We worked with the existing natural slopes of the land and created different levels of usable space.