Plant focus: Lomandra longifolia 'Breeze'. SEE PHOTOS TAKEN AFTER 2 YEARS. This San Rafael front landscape has been dramatically updated with a welcoming concrete pathway entrance, and complimented by a variety of architectural plants, hardy succulents, textural grasses and a majestic, fruitless olive tree. The dramatic transformation is enhanced by a raised corten steel planter at the pathway entrance with gravel and succulents. Two horizontal ipe wood structures provide contemporary accents. New raised concrete planters alongside the new concrete driveway define the property and showcase more colorful succulents. A beautiful gray house paint color and ipe accents complete the remodel. Drawings, Design and Photos © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Designer event- Annual San Francisco designer showcase. *Design director- Chris Jacobson *Landscape contractor- Garden Route *Metal vine screens on terrace-Greenscreen *Roof planters-Planter Technology *Metallic planters- International Art Properties, Inc *Terrace furniture- Henry Hall Designs *Cast bronze terrace railings- Roger W. Stoller *Bronze gate, hand rail, pelican sculpture- W.J. Sorich Metalsmith *Metal sculpture bench- William Wareham *Photo- Chris Jacobson, GardenArt group

Dry river-esque bands of rock in the driveway direct stormwater into planted spaces. This band, at the end of the drive, directs water into bright green Dwarf Coyote Bush.

The gently sloping yard is divided into two distinct areas. We kept a large grassy area for the dogs and to offset the large patio. Instead of a harsh retaining we used the slope to create a natural stone stream bed that collects rainwater and drains it away from the house.

Mid-sized country backyard full sun formal garden in Denver for winter.

This is an example of a large traditional side yard full sun driveway for winter in Austin with a retaining wall and brick pavers.

Design ideas for a mid-sized tropical front yard full sun garden for winter in Tampa with a garden path and concrete pavers.

The original zen garden is updated with slate chip mulch and a birds nest spruce. Boulders original to the site were relocated as needed. Renn Kuhnen Photography

Images by Dean Homicki
Photo of a mid-sized country backyard full sun formal garden for winter in Melbourne with gravel.

Before the Ecoscape designers created this backyard terrace design, this space was an odd- shaped, upwardly sloping, compacted-dirt yard with a smattering of straggly turf, assorted weeds, and a few undesirable Russian olive trees. The graduated redstone pathway is the focal point, drawing the eye upwards, with terraced beds adding texture and visual interest. Sod was added in a few key spots, however it is the water-wise perennial plantings that provide much- needed nutrition for our pollinator friends. Instead of having a sad, uninspiring backyard, the homeowner gained a lot of functional garden space with the raised beds and rock outcroppings. When covered with snow, the shapes and curves created through stonework will keep this yard interesting throughout Colorado's long winter, which often goes right though April and May. As new plants emerge in the spring, the redstone creates pockets of warmth, helping them through the fluctuating low temperatures.

This project had two required outcomes; develop a bolder garden presence in both the front and back garden, while creating a unique area in the backyard for teenage boys to entertain in. The backyard was a very rocky site which included a bald, exposed rock and multiple levels, but which had an innate native feel - so this was built upon by planting a number of beautiful Australian species, such as Bracelet Honey Myrtle, Kangaroo Paw, Mat Rush, selected succulents, Coastal Rosemary, Japanese Box topiaries, Sweet Viburnum, Bird-of-Paradise, Box and Keteleeri Juniper. To carry the native feel throughout the entire redevelopment, the backyard construction included feature sandstone walling, timber bollards to support lighting and sandstone steps with decomposed granite. To ensure the area fulfilled its entertainment goal, a fire pit was created with timber seating surrounds and a new BBQ enclosure installed, complete with lighting and a gas BBQ for year-round functionality. The exposed rock was turned into a unique feature piece and the garden was punctuated with sculptures, tallowwood posts, sawn sandstone, castlight fittings and terrazzo pots to imbue a modern bent. This feel was carried throughout the front yard where new feature walling, pots and lighting complemented the same plant varieties. The end result is a bold modern garden which boasts year-round entertainment functionality and can be enjoyed by all ages.

A mix of black eyed susans, yucca, and ornamental grasses form the basis to this gorgeous and exuberant mass planting full of texture and color in the front yard landscape architecture garden design of this Kansas City home.

Overgrown and Neglected Landscape Turned Low Maintenance and Welcoming
Photo of a mid-sized traditional front yard full sun garden for winter in Cincinnati with concrete pavers.

Scapes and Stones
Design ideas for a large modern backyard full sun xeriscape for winter in Phoenix with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

Photo taken in the summer, 2 years after the hillside was planted with a selection of CA native plants and other low-water plants for year round interest. © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Photography: Gerardine and Jude Vargas
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury backyard full sun xeriscape for winter in Phoenix with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Design ideas for a large traditional side yard full sun driveway for winter in Austin with a retaining wall and brick pavers.

Inspired by native limestone waterfall, and designed to naturally blend into the landscape but make a huge impression and impact, this pondless waterfall built in the loess hills of Western Iowa is a signature project and an absolute stunner. Its placement on the hillside across the driveway for the house provided a perfect setting to make a dramatic impact. The variety of small and large waterfalls helps provide scale and interest, along with making different sounds as the water crashes over the rocks to fill the air with a fabulous ambiance. The character of the weathered limestone helps the feature appear seamless and as if it is naturally eroding out of the hillside. A variety of evergreens punctuate the landscape, and perennial natives and grasses blend into the native prairie grass establish beyond the waterfall. This waterfall feature's Aquascape products and LED lighting. Built to run in all four seasons, but with the ease of being shut of for vacations and quickly started upon returning with no need to fill the reservoir and with no hassle. Running the feature on a timer and the addition of an IonGen helps keep this feature free from algae. A similar project built in the Omaha Metro Area would have a budget around $30,000 and would take 2-3 weeks to create. Neptune's Water Gardens is the premier water feature design and installation company in the #Omaha Metro area. Our naturally balanced, low-maintenance ecosystem ponds work with Mother Nature, not against her. We pride ourselves in creating water features that appear to have always existed in their surrounding landscape. Whether you choose an ecosystem #pond, decorative #fountainscape, #Pondless® #Waterfall or the new #RainXchange™ System that pairs a rainwater harvesting system with a #decorative water feature – you'll be thrilled with the sight and sound that water brings to your #landscape. From #trees to #shrubs; #patios to retaining walls, the experienced #designers and #craftsman at #Neptune's Water Gardens will be able to bring all of your #outdoor living ideas to reality . For more information and inspiration visit our website http://www.neptuneswatergardens.com/pondless.html Serving the Omaha Metro Area and Eastern #Nebraska and Western #Iowa . Services include pond help, pond cleaning and repair, pond and water feature maintenance, boulder bubblers and fountains, water garden and koi pond design and installation, pondless and disappearing waterfall design and installation, landscape design installation and maintenance, Stone and paver patios and retaining walls . #neptuneswatergardens #ncn #cac #aquascape #pondstars Design, Installation, And Photographs By Jason Heller and Neptune's Water Gardens

A low profile display of mixed winter greens, dried florals and birch poles amplifies the linear window box planter.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front yard full sun garden for winter in Chicago with a container garden.