Garden makeovers by Shirley Bovshow in Los Angeles. Glowing ornamental grasses and other low water plants enhance the natural style gardens surrounding this pool makeover expertly crafted by Southern California Landscape. Why start from scratch if you can "recreate" a pool scape that you will love for a fraction of the price. See the transformation: http://edenmakersblog.com/?p=533 Photo by Shirley Bovshow EdenMakersBlog.com

Pool & Pool House Stowe, Vermont This mountain top residential site offers spectacular 180 degree views towards adjacent hillsides. The client desired to replace an existing pond with a pool and pool house to be used for both entertaining and family use. The open site is adjacent to the driveway to the north but offered spectacular mountain views to the south. The challenge was to provide privacy at the pool without obstructing the beautiful vista from the entry drive. Working closely with the architect we designed the pool and pool house as one modern element closely linked by proximity, detailing & geometry. In so doing, we used precise placement, careful choice of building & site materials, and minimalist planting. Existing trees were edited to open up selected views to the south. Rows of ornamental grasses provide architectural delineation of outdoor space. Understated stone steps in the lawn loosely connect the pool to the main house. Architect: Michael Minadeo + Partners Image Credit: Westphalen Photography

Marion Brenner
Photo of an expansive contemporary backyard garden in San Francisco.

A steep hillside is turned into a lush landscape using salvias, ornamental grasses, pomegranates and other easy care plants.
Inspiration for a traditional sloped garden in San Francisco with natural stone pavers.

Photo by Linda Oyama Bryan
Photo of a contemporary backyard garden in Chicago.

Native Little Bluestem catches the late summer sun.
Design ideas for a traditional full sun garden in New York.

Pool & Pool House Stowe, Vermont This mountain top residential site offers spectacular 180 degree views towards adjacent hillsides. The client desired to replace an existing pond with a pool and pool house to be used for both entertaining and family use. The open site is adjacent to the driveway to the north but offered spectacular mountain views to the south. The challenge was to provide privacy at the pool without obstructing the beautiful vista from the entry drive. Working closely with the architect we designed the pool and pool house as one modern element closely linked by proximity, detailing & geometry. In so doing, we used precise placement, careful choice of building & site materials, and minimalist planting. Existing trees were edited to open up selected views to the south. Rows of ornamental grasses provide architectural delineation of outdoor space. Understated stone steps in the lawn loosely connect the pool to the main house. Architect: Michael Minadeo + Partners Image Credit: Westphalen Photography

Landscapes & Cie
Design ideas for a beach style backyard garden in Rennes.

From the street, a round rock pathway leads to a small seating area next to the water with a small fire pit. Low maintenance, drought resistant and salt tolerant plantings were used in mass and clumps. This garden has become the focus of the neighborhood with many visitors stopping and enjoying what has become a neighborhood landmark. Located on the shores of Puget Sound in Washington State. Photo by R. Scott Lankford

A mid-century home sits behind this naturalistic planting design framed by a horizontal, contemporary-style fence. The lines of the fence are the perfect foil to the wispy brushstrokes of feather grass. This planting design was inspired by wind-swept hills, and foothill Manzanita. These plants thrive with absolutely no irrigation and no additional water (not even in the first year). The concrete pavers were re-purposed from the original garden. Photo: James Wilson

design: Studio TOOP, 2008 location: Vianen, NL status: built in 2008, Tuinvreugd photo: Jolanthe Lalkens, 2009 This front garden needed to make a link with the newly built contemporary home and its gorgeous view. The key was for the design not to compete with either. Strokes of three types of grass and textural interest and privacy while not distracting you from the main focus of the garden: the view!

This is an example of a traditional garden in Orange County with with outdoor playset.

Billy Goodnick
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape in Los Angeles.

This inviting space features a decorative concrete patio with a custom concrete fire pit and Ipe floating bench. The lush landscaping and cedar privacy fence provides a tranquil setting for city living.

An axis through the hillside layers with korean grass steps above.
Photo of a mid-sized modern sloped full sun xeriscape for fall in Los Angeles with concrete pavers.

Canadian Stone Veneer
Design ideas for a small courtyard patio in Nashville.

Design ideas for a country driveway in Santa Barbara.

Design ideas for a traditional backyard garden in New York.

Photographer: Michael Del Rossi
Photo of a midcentury home design in Boston.