To gain more usable space in this narrow landscape and update the hardscaping and overgrown garden, my design reconfigured the pathway with poured-in-place concrete pavers accented by Mexican pebbles and a stunning variety of succulents and other site-appropriate plantings that thrive in shade and part sun. We removed the tree to create a patio area large enough to fit a table and chairs for a small group. Non-invasive/clumping Bamboo was added to help screen the patio and provide privacy. Other shade to part-shade plants were included that provide a variety of textures and colors throughout the seasons. Low-voltage lighting was installed for safety and ambiance. Design and Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

This is an example of a large traditional backyard full sun garden for fall in Boston with concrete pavers.

Large country full sun formal garden in Melbourne with natural stone pavers for fall.

Natural pathway stones wind through the garden. Boulders protrude to add interest and seating, pea gravel creates open space and take the place of lawn. Magic Landscaping, Inc- New Jersey Landscape Designer & Contractor.

Inspiration for a small modern rooftop full sun garden for fall in Tokyo with a container garden.

Old barren space where a playground once stood is transformed into a circular patio with a fire pit in the center.
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard full sun garden for fall in Kansas City with concrete pavers and a fire feature.

Photography by Stacy Bass
This is an example of a large traditional backyard partial sun formal garden for fall in Other with with privacy feature and concrete pavers.

J. Craig Sweat Photography Inc.
This is an example of a midcentury shaded garden for fall in Other.

Seasonal container arrangement -- Autumn
Inspiration for an eclectic garden for fall in Los Angeles with a container garden.

Front entry Banas flagstone walkway with surrounding gardens, with landscape lighting to highlight the path.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun formal garden for fall in Toronto with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Harrison Fence Custom Arbor/Trellis work
Photo of a small traditional front yard partial sun formal garden for fall in Raleigh with gravel.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for fall in London with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

In 2003, we received a call from John and Jennifer Randall of West Houston. They had decided to build a French-style home just off of Piney Point near Memorial Drive. Jennifer wanted a modern French landscape design that reflected the symmetry, balance, and patterns of Old World estates. French landscapes like this are popular because of their uniquely proportioned partier gardens, formal garden and constructions, and tightly clipped hedges. John also wanted the French landscape design because of his passion for his heritage (he originally came to Houston from Louisiana), as well as the obvious aesthetic benefits of creating a natural complement to the architecture of the new house. The first thing we designed was a motor court driveway/parking area in the front of the home. While you may not think that a paved element would have anything at all do with landscape design, in reality it is truly apropos to the theme. French homes almost always have paving that extends all the way to the house. In the case of the Randall home, we used interlocking concrete pavers to create a surface that looks much older than it really is. This prevented the property from looking too much like a new construction and better lent itself to the elegance and stateliness characteristic of French landscape designs in general. Further blending of practical function with the aesthetic elements of French landscaping was accomplished in an area to the left of the driveway. John loved fishing, and he requested that we design a convenient parking area to temporarily store his boat while he waited for a slip at the marina to become available. Knowing that this area would function only for temporary storage, we came up with the idea of integrating this special parking area into the green space of a parterre garden. We laid down a graveled area in the shape of a horseshoe that would easily allow John back up his truck and unload his boat. We then surrounded this graveled area with a scalloped hedge characterized by a very bright, light green color. Planting boxwoods and Holly trees beyond the hedge, we then extended them throughout the yard. This created a contrast of light and green ground cover that is characteristic of French landscape designs. By establishing alternating light and dark shades of color, it helps establish an unconscious sense of movement which the eye finds it hard to resist following Parterre gardens like this are also keynote elements to French landscape designs, and the combination of such a green space with the functional element of a paved area serves to elevate the mundane purpose of a temporary parking and storage area into an aesthetic in its own right. Also, we deliberately chose the horseshoe design because we knew this space could later be transformed into a decorative center for the entire garden. This is the main reason we used small stones to cover the area, rather than concrete or pavers. When the boat was eventually relocated, the darkly colored stones surrounded by a brightly colored hedge gave us an excellent place to mount an outdoor sculpture. The elegance of the home and surrounding French landscape design warranted attention at all hours so we contracted a lighting design company to ensure that all important elements of the house and property were fully visible at night. With mercury vapor lights concealed in trees, we created artificial moonlight that shone down on the garden and front porch. For accent lighting, we used a combination of up lights and down lights to differentiate architectural features, and we installed façade lights to emphasize the face of the home itself. Although a new construction, this residence achieved such an aura of stateliness that it earned fame throughout the neighborhood almost overnight, and it remains a favorite in the Piney Point area to this day. For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

Mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun garden in Other with concrete pavers for fall.

The twin brother wanted a firepit so I obliged.
Small country backyard full sun garden in Boston with a fire feature and river rock for fall.

This rain garden has grown to maturity in three years Photo by Amy Whitworth Installation by Creative Touch Landscaping
Design ideas for a small arts and crafts front yard garden for fall in Portland with a garden path.

Steve Achtemeier
Inspiration for a large country backyard shaded garden for fall in Chicago with gravel.

Lots or Fir, Spruce, Aspen, and native grasses give this landscape a rustic touch.
Inspiration for a large eclectic side yard full sun xeriscape for fall in Denver with river rock.

Dennis Mayer Photographer
Inspiration for a traditional front yard driveway for fall in San Francisco.