Modern garden for a modern Seattle house

The balcony of our client’s modern house overlooks their garden.
Before, the view of the old lawn was dismal.

The newly installed garden has a lawn and patio large enough for a small bench.

Before, this was an uninviting space.
A stone planter defines the end of the crescent shaped lawn which was designed, along with the patio, to be viewed from above.

Peaceful winter garden on Mercer Island

In the middle of winter when many gardens are brown and lifeless, it’s nice to see a garden  full of color, texture and life.

A purple bench is unexpected in this woodland setting.

The mossy basin rock attracts birds and is a winter focal point.

Mahonia is a great structural plant and the yellow blooms are a winter bonus.

Evergreen ferns, grasses and hellebores brighten the gray winter days.

Removing huge maple transforms a Seattle garden

Big leaf maples are prevalent in Seattle but not suitable for many gardens.

 
The core of this maple was rotted so the tree was removed for safety.
A new garden thrives without the competition from the maple.

This massive big leaf maple dominated the entry.

With the maple gone the front door looks directly out on the street.

A well planned landscape provides screening and color.

Mature garden shines in all Seattle’s seasons

We chose an interesting mix of evergreen grasses, broadleaf and conifers.
This garden was a ‘builder’s special’ just four years ago.

Now it is vibrant even in the winter.

The area under the deck was left unfinished.

Now it is an attractive and low maintenance part of the garden.

Our favorite winter garden in Seattle is Kubota

An icy basin rock is surround by black mondo grass.

Frost dusts the leaves of  evergreen azaleas.

The Japanese maples at Kubota garden display their twisted limbs in winter.

A weeping willow’s calm reflection on a winter morning.

Photography by Tom Slattery

 

Beautiful winter garden in Seattle

The fluffy flowers of the smoke tree suggest a wintry scene.
Ornamental grasses and sedums shimmer on a frosty morning.
 Evergreen plants provide continuing winter interest.

Spectacular Seattle Fall Color

Better wear sun glasses when looking at this coral bark maple.

The adjacent evergreens compliment the leaves of this fiery red maple.

This hellebore and nandina prove that not all fall color comes from trees.

Purple callicarpa berries persist after the leaves turn yellow and drop.

Garden art is colorful all year.

Beautiful and edible fall color in Seattle

The rosy fruit of the Russian kiwi tastes like a cross between a pear and a grape.

Blueberries are excellent landscape plants with great fall color.

Grape foliage turns many colors while the last of the fruit clings to the vines.

Figs continue to ripen into the fall looking like purple jewels on the branches.

Entry Garden Renovation

The lackluster entry made the long front walk look even longer.

A variety of plants provide texture and interest.
The low hedge had to be pruned regularly to keep the walkway open.

The new size appropriate plants are attractive and low maintenance.

A Welcoming Garden

This dismal sight was what our client came home to every day.
Now she comes home to a beautiful garden