This wooded property is surrounded by thick evergreen trees and has a peekaboo view of Swartz Lake. The homeowner was in the process of building their custom home when they contacted us to do the design of their landscape. Because this was a new custom home, the landscape was starting from a blank slate and…
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Fall Garden Maintenance
As the last couple of blooms appear in the garden, it’s a good time to work on a few fall garden tasks to keep your garden tidy and ready for winter. Pruning While we don’t want to do any substantial pruning until late winter/early spring, late fall is a good time to prune out any…
Low Maintenance Gardening
It’s rare that we find a client that doesn’t want a low maintenance garden. Many people think low maintenance means no maintenance, which is typically not the case in most gardens. In general, a low maintenance garden would be one that you wouldn’t need to fuss with more than 1-2 times a year although everyone’s…
Pet Friendly Landscaping
While outdoor spaces are typically designed for the humans using the space, it’s also important to remember the pets of the family and how they use the space. As with any other design, you want to think about who or what uses the space, the flow of the space, materials, and of course plants. Hardscaping…
Favorite Ornamental Grasses
Whether you need a plant for a container, to block an unsightly view, or to make a statement in the garden, ornamental grasses can do it. With so many options, this category of plants is so versatile and they really show their value this time of year and into fall. These are some of our…
Project Spotlight – Backyard Pool
The backyard of this Lake Stevens home started as a mostly blank slate with a long slope and the front yard had a few drainage issues that needed addressing. The homeowner wanted a place to relax and entertain along with a pool for the whole family to enjoy and plenty of room for kiddos to…
Designing for Wildlife
Sometimes our busy lives overshadow our attention to the abundance of natural life around us. The PNW is awash in numerous animal species that also call our urban spaces home. You’ll be amazed by the wildlife activity you can welcome and encourage in your own backyard by providing these easy to incorporate elements. Element 1:…
Raised Planters
Although this spring has been slow to start, we promise it’ll come along in full force soon enough and then it’ll be a scramble to get your garden growing! Raised planters are not only great for veggie gardens but also for herb and cut flower gardens along with shrubs, perennials, and even trees. They can…
Favorite Native Plants for the Pacific Northwest
With the first day of Spring just passing us and plant sales popping up, it’s a great time to get acquainted with some of our Pacific Northwest native plants. This is just a small fraction of what’s available and can be grown in your garden. With the weather starting to warm up and plenty of…
Vertical Landscaping
When you think of a landscape you most likely imagine those parts that are on the ground level like a patio, pathways, plantings beds, maybe raised planters, and a water feature. But what about those elements that lift your eye away from the ground level. Vertical landscaping is great for maximizing a small space, getting…