Projects

Muddy yard to sunken tropical garden

A "before" image: A muddy, plantless backyard with an old picket fence.

Before: The backyard of this corner lot house lacked privacy.

An "after" image: the muddy backyard transformed into a flagstone patio garden with semi-tropical plants

After: Privacy achieved with a custom fence. The flagstone patio is surrounded by a lush yet low-water mix of plants. Leaf textures range from coarse to fine.

From parking spot to peaceful retreat . . .

cluttered yard with car and house with deck

Before: The sloping backyard had a parking space but little space for outdoor dining.

After: A low wall creates a terrace for a tile patio and seating beneath a wisteria covered arbor.

and lunch alfresco!

a before photo: tile patio and bare table, bare dirt

Newly built: The tile patio awaits new plantings and outdoor furniture.

an after photo: table beautifully set with cloth napkins and a a floral arragement in a leafy garden

After: All set for a family gathering.

Albany backyard redesigned for parties and play

A messy backyard with bark mulch and weeds and a big trampoline

Before: To the owners' chagrin, the family dog always dug up the bark mulch

Smiling man standing on a flagstone patio surrounded by beautiful plants

Planting day: A patio of dig-proof pavers. The maple will absorb the overflow from an outdoor shower, not pictured

garage and a driveway cluttered with patio furniture, cracking pavement

Before: The cracked former driveway before the plants arrived.

People seated in a patio with planters of olive trees, bistro lights and a heat lamp

In use: A garden party (on a winter's night) enlivened by bistro lights, potted olives and curved concrete cuts for creeping thyme

The clutter cleared, a
residential landscape takes shape

a disordered backyard full of furniture, hot tub, umbrella

Demo day: View from balcony

cleared yard with base rock, deck construction

Landscape install -

D. Garcias Landscaping

Underway: Ground is cleared for deck, retaining wall, path and patio construction.

a new stone patio, newly planted shrubs, new plants in containers

Planting day: Dining terrace of Connecticut bluestone; amended soil for healthy plants; Swan Hill olives for dappled shade; evergreen shrubs will form a privacy hedge.

ordway at night from upper floor_edited.

After hours

outdoor furniture crowded on a concrete patio

Before: The existing patio is too small for the family's activities

hot tub, ping pong table, stone path, deck with furniture

After: A generous deck for the outdoor kitchen; a stone path leads to the table tennis green

colorful, textural plants foreground, background dining table

Four months later: The trees, shrubs and flowering plants are thriving.

Berkeley pocket yard -
From boxed-in to "Welcome in!"

A dull yard with gray fence, deck and pergola. Meh plants.

Before: Too much gray, deck is damaged and path is often weedy

landscape under construction showing gravel and new dirt in planting beds

Landscaping Install -

Lopez Landscaping & Construction

Underway: Curvy planting beds prepped with soil amendment, base rock for patio

A newly designed yard with a flagstone patio, new plants. A sunny day.

After: Removed trellis to "borrow the view" of neighboring trees, added a gold flagstone patio, fountain and new plants. (Dining table and chairs en route!)