The Ultimate Garden Design + Build

[OverGrown]

Property | 16k sq ft flat lot in the hills w/ view.

Owner preferences | No pool, No outdoor kitchen, Minimize Lawn, Low maintenance, Incorporate existing shed.

Total working time | 3 months + 1 month rain delay

I will take better pics when I get back into LA. There are still a couple finishing touches that have to be done.

Before:

After:

Edited January 26, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

Before:

After:

[OverGrown]

Before:

After:

Edited January 26, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

Before:

After:

[OverGrown]

They had an unproportional planter on the left side of the driveway so I relocated the architectural mailbox here and expanded the planter.

Planted are two sets of A. cunninghamia (25g) and a bizmarkia nobilis (15g) in the middle to fill out over time. Dioons edules, pink sensation and red star cordylines add color & texture. The triple trunk king was grown in dappled shade as indicated by the stretched fronds and got burnt pretty bad on the crown shaft, if it doesn't make the adjustment, it will be replaced.

Edited January 26, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

An industrial playground with 3.75" rubber tiles rated for a 10' fall was added for their grandchildren, nephew and nieces. This has been quite the hit and has already created a wait list for birthdays, parties, etc.

Edited January 26, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

Back planter next to the playground to provide shade for the stamped concrete dining/entertaining area. The only specimen planting here was an encephalartos frederici-guillemii.

[OverGrown]

This 8' planter provides a little privacy from the neighbors.

Planted in between the 4 sets of triple trunk kings are two majesties, a spindle palm. A bottle palm sits in from the last one but will likely be moved to a better location.

In the corner, I planted a 24" box gigas, 24" dypsis decaryi, behind a gigas is a flowering yellow vine that belonged to the homeowner. Up front are pink sensation cordylines and a dioon edule.

Edited January 26, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

Specimens in the middle planter of the backyard includes a couple dypsis plumosas and an encephalartos gratus.

Edited January 26, 2011 by OverGrown

[Palmlover]

Wow! That looks very nice.

[OverGrown]

The homeowner didn't care for a water feature but I felt a project of this scaled needed something.. so I designed these double fire bowls on top of a cascading fountain to get the sound of trickling water w/o the maintenance. He only has to fill them for special occasions and can switch a valve that will empty the basin when not in use. I'm still waiting on a couple custom parts to finish this.

[OverGrown]

In this planter that can be seen from the front of the house, I planted a grove of chamaedora plumosas under the shade of kings and a lepidozamia as an accent.

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A couple specimen plantings along the other side of the house:

E. Gratus, Zamia furfuracea,

c. thoursii & bottle palm in an area that only gets sun up till about noon.

[OverGrown]

One last overlook of the back before I move onto the front.

[OverGrown]

This landscape looks good from any angle.

Looking out to the street.

[OverGrown]

Containers and Areas designated for seasonal changes of plants and/or flowers:

A flower section next to the driveway to welcome home the owners along with the imprints of their grandchildren in the concrete border.

Two pots flanking a "village" area of the back yard.

Two contemporary pots that flank the front formal walkway.

[OverGrown]

A couple large cycad specimens:

24" box dioon mejia flank the formal walkway, 15g macrozamia communis, 36" box encephalartos altensteinii 'bushman river'

Edited January 26, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

Some details:

Stainless Steel floating numbers and pillar lamps.

A fence design that had a lot of people worried including my iron guys but came out great.

Recycled tire rubber mulch that costs a fortune but truly adds a unique touch.

[OverGrown]

Kichler LED up-lighting throughout 4.5w, 8.5w, 12.5w approx 32 lights total. Not including Vista stainless steel LED step lights and pillar lights which I don't have pictures of.

Double headed drips calibrated for each palm tree, cycad and japanese maples. Single drip heads for cordylines and smaller cycads. Every connection/barb/tee was heat "welded" to prevent leaks and busts.

Edited January 26, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

I still have to clean up the wires but I located all the the controls for lighting and irrigation as well as a new outlet to the north side of the house for a clean yet easily serviceable setup.

[OverGrown]

I will try to post more pics and comment on the build out, finishing touches and design later.. Hope you enjoyed.

Time to let my mind relax and my body to heal... and I will take any opportunity to look corny...

Edited January 26, 2011 by OverGrown

[Sutter Bob]

Great job!

[cencalpalmguy]

Look as corny as you want. Youv'e inspired me to grab a shovel and start digging. Awsome job! What town is this house located?

[OverGrown]

Look as corny as you want. Youv'e inspired me to grab a shovel and start digging. Awsome job! What town is this house located?

If you chop up the physical work as a workout it will help keep you motivated, good music helps out a lot! To respect the privacy of the homeowners, I can't disclose the location. Many heads of law enforcement live in the neighborhood.

[iamjv]

Gorgeous outcome.... like the hardscape as well as the choice of plants. You've really opened up the backyard and regained the valley view for your client. I am sure they are pleased! Bravo! Jv

[yachtingone]

Wow!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ POWER:mrlooney:

Randy

[LindaB]

Now that is a transformation !

Very well done.

Linda

[BS Man about Palms]

Really nicely done Peter. More hardscape than I would like, but what is there looks great!

Looks like the bottles will be the marginal species... usually are in So Cal.

Plus, maybe all the Law enforcement in the 'hood will keep those Cycads in place!

[MMerville]

Very good work and result.It looks total different.

Michel

[JasonD]

I like the use of the kings as a dominant theme, with under- and co-planted rarities.

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Fantastic - you have thought of everything !

[realarch]

Great job, makes the property really stand out. it would be cool to see a night shot of the accent lighting.

[Walter John]

How many different species are referred to as "kings" ?

[MattyB]

Absolutely beautiful design. Thanks for taking the time to share the whole thing with us. I'm going to try and incorporate some ideas I've seen here into my garden as I start working on some of the more formal areas. Thanks so much.

[BeaumontTropics]

Truly fluid design, I only wish the homeowners had opted for a backyard pool, that would have made the design flawless! Great space for entertaining, exceptionally clean lines, fantastic hardscape, beautiful palms, amazing outcome! Truly your hard work has paid off, my friend!

-FINS UP BROTHER!

-eric

[OverGrown]

Thanks for the compliments guys, there was an incredible amount of detail and prep work required to make it look the way it does.

To address a few things;

Bob, Thanks!

Jv, Thanks! My clients love their new space. I did a couple trick features with the hardscape you'll rarely see. Pics soon!

Randy, I told the owner he could have bought a Lamborghini outright, but not as many people would have been able to enjoy it like this landscape..this space is going to serve as the perfect backdrop for interaction with his loved ones..That's money well spent.

Linda, Thanks.. Night and Day.

BS, The hardscape is there for practical use but my proportioning in the design can be deceiving from pictures, there is more than enough planter space, one planter that is 120'x 8', w/ irrigation rigged to parts of the lawn in case they want to add more planters later. Hidden from view and not pictured is an area for a shade house/green house behind the sheds (40'+), more plants will incorporated in later phases once the Kings establish themselves. The bottle palms have already exhibited a couple brown leaves from the colder weeks prior, but I'm going to keep them unless they look terrible most of the year.

Michel, Thanks!

Realarch, I will definitely take night shots when I get back into town. It makes it look like and entirely different space.

Wal, Archontopheonix's are typically referred to as kings.. In this case I used A. Cunninghamia and Alexandreas.

Matty, No problem and good luck!

Eric, I'm glad you caught the fluid design, its very much a part of my style and lends to some very casual entertaining spaces throughout the landscape. Pools are nice but a majority

of people like the idea of it more than they actually use it, it ends up becoming more maintenance than its worth which is why you typically see them neglected. The playground was a nice compromise their grandkids would appreciate more.

Edited January 28, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

Here's a few more shots for perspective.

Repetitive plantings in the same configuration. Two mid height cordylines w/ the bigger one at the rear, a dioon in the front planted in a triangulated fashion. Great combination of color and texture when viewed at eye level and from a distance. All planters were covered w/ heavy duty landscape fabric to minimize weeds.

Edited February 2, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

Here is a shot of the rear fence designed out of iron framing and solid steel rods. I like the stainless steel applications but they can get expensive for most homeowner's budgets, especially when you have to cover large areas.. This rear wall was approx 106'

[OverGrown]

Another shot of the fence including the planter.. Here you can see how well the plants contrast against the black rubber mulch.

Edited February 2, 2011 by OverGrown

[OverGrown]

When I get a chance, I'm going to have to take a picture of my tools but this bad boy helped get me through the project. MP3 hookups, Radio, 4 outlet power station and Lithion Ion battery charger for my power drill.

Edited February 2, 2011 by OverGrown