Before & After Photos
LANDSCAPE RENOVATIONS
by BLUESTAR LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS
Project 1: Auburn Woodland Turned
into Japanese Garden
This Auburn front yard landscape was inspired by the last
sentence of the initial interview with the Homeowner when she
said, “Oh, and by the way, if you can make it be a Japanese
garden, I’d love that.”
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BEFORE |
AFTER |
One of the most important functions of
a landscape is to create a sense of arrival, which was lacking
in the existing gravel pathway which had no delineated edges or
perceivable elevation changes. The new flagstone path and steps
create strong vertical and horizontal lines; the color contrasts
in the flagstones provide interest without being overpowering.
The tall vertical stone placed to the right of the path near the
post echoes the vertical stones already in place, balancing out
the two sides of the path. Notice how the bench in the middle
distance creates a small, but unobtrusive focal point that leads
your eye into the landscape. In the far distance, a large pot
marks the end of the landscape. All of these changes help to
create a dramatic and pleasant sense of arrival.
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BEFORE |
AFTER |
Even though only the hardscape is in at this phase, one can
already see how the landscape is shaping up.
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BEFORE |
AFTER |
Although the steps going to the front door (previous picture)
are in flagstone on a concrete slab, this portion of the patio
is flagstone on a decomposed granite base so that the oak trees’
roots could breathe. Notice how much more the trees stand out
and add a vertical element when beneath them is uncluttered.
BEFORE |
AFTER |
Simplifying and strengthening the lines creates a landscape
with much more impact. This is achieved by eliminating the
“ring” of rocks from the existing landscape, and re-placing each
stone by choice and with intention. (The Japanese ask each stone
where it would like to be.) Parallel header boards magnify the
strong line effect.
BEFORE |
AFTER |
The Homeowner gave us the option of keeping the black orb in
the landscape design. We wouldn’t think of eliminating it—it
creates a very special focal point because it is the only
completely round form in the landscape. The shapes of Heavenly
Bamboo ‘Nana’ clustered around the orb repeat its roundness,
emphasizing its beauty in a subtle way. Notice the other
geometric shapes in the landscape (the stone slab bridge coming
off the patio in the right middleground and the pots). Even with
a diversity of shapes, because the colors are all earthtones,
nothing looks busy.
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This multi-trunk oak tree has become the central point of the
yard, a focal point directly outside of the kitchen window.
Objects are placed around the tree to enhance its aesthetics,
yet are all functional as well. Wildlife habitat is created by
placing a small pot to the right of the tree which serves as a
bird bath, while a hummingbird feeder hangs from its tall
branches. This is good habitat for humans, too—the granite top
of the bench provides cooling relief on a hot day, while the
gardenia in its accompanying pot provides scents to relax.
BEFORE |
AFTER |
In the existing landscape, these rocks served as a barrier
and inhibited the homeowners from walking out into their yard.
The introduction of steps to the patio encourages the homeowners
to use their yard more often. The rocks used to hold up the
steps are all volunteer rocks which were pulled out of the
“rings” of rocks mentioned previously. The use of rocks or other
materials which naturally occur on-site (volunteers) greatly
contributes to the naturalness of a landscape.
BEFORE |
AFTER |
Landscape designers often find it challenging to landscape
under oak trees, due to the difficulty of gardening in their
heavy shade and the possibility of harming the trees by
disturbing their roots. In this case, a dry stream bed was the
perfect solution. In Japanese gardens, not only are the rocks
asked where they would like to be placed, but how they would
like to sit (vertically or horizontally). These rocks want to be
vertical--to complement the horizontality of the heavy slabs of
rock which form a bridge from the patio to the landscape.
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