This property is a modest home in a residential neighborhood which backs up to wild land in a creek bed. Patricia has been fortunate to be able to work with the homeowner over several years to realize her vision.
Before | After |
 Typical foundation hedge plants and one interesting tree with a split trunk on a standard lawn. |  Patricia removed all the lawn except a path. Native and adapted evergreen and blooming plants form islands of texture and color. The new porch provides a more welcoming covered entry. |
 The back yard, too, was basically one big lawn. |  A circular garden is the centerpiece of the back yard now, with curved footpaths and keyhole gardens throughout. The beds are full of herbs and flowers. Visible to the right is a trampoline, a favorite of neighborhood children. |
 Looking toward the creek. The previous owner had fenced the lawn off from the wild land. |  Patricia removed the fence, opening the backyard onto the creek. This stone footpath past the circular garden leads to stairs descending into the creek bed. |
 This storage shed was cramped and difficult to use because the door swung inward, using up lots of interior space. |  Patricia installed sliding doors and a porch, making the space much more attractive and usable. |
Design Considerations | |
 Topographical map. The red arrow points to the subject property. The rear of the property descends rapidly to a broad creekbed, including a natural stone pavement and islands of trees and brush. |  One of Patricia's design sketches for the back yard. The final result does not match this exactly, but the main shapes and contours are preserved. |
Additional Views | |
 Another view of the new front porch. |  Front yard detail: Katie's Aralia. |
 Back yard detail: hibiscus flower in summer. |  View from the creek. Patricia installed stonework to protect the creek bank. The back yard is up the bank to the right. |
 Datura provides night-blooming aromatic flowers outside the bedroom in summer. |  The landscape has a definite sub-tropical feeling. |