Work with the contour
A terraced route follows the shape of the ground. Each landing gives the walk a comfortable pause and a clear change of direction.
Foothill Retreat
A garden that follows the land.
The starting point.
A sloping garden can be a sequence of experiences instead of a problem to flatten. An unhurried route runs from the house to a modest lookout, with planting that connects the foreground to the foothills beyond.
The design idea.
Broad stone steps settle into the slope. Their gentle changes in direction reveal a resting place gradually, allowing the land to remain the strongest feature.
Frame the long view
Low planting keeps the distant outlook open. A simple pair of chairs makes the destination useful without competing with the landscape.
Repeat the surrounding textures
Grasses, shrubs and rough stone link the garden visually to its setting. Repetition keeps the route legible across the slope.
Close to the ground.
Planting character
A planting palette of native grasses, rabbitbrush and scrub oak, linking the garden to the textures of the foothills.
Material palette
Broad sandstone treads, gravel landings and a small cedar seating area. The changing levels give each landing a distinct outlook.
A garden for your home begins with your site, priorities and the way you want to spend time outside.
Talk about a garden like this