Modern Garden for Spring Ideas and Designs

Bench seating in foreground with native plants on hillside in background
Bench seating in foreground with native plants on hillside in background
June Scott DesignJune Scott Design
Rock outcroppings make a striking background for new lounge areas in this compact Los Angeles hillside garden. Working with the attributes of the site, we added native plants to drape over the stone, and converted hollowed stone planters into a firepit and water feature. New built-in seating and a cozy hammock complete the relaxing space, and dramatic lighting makes it come alive at night. Photo by Martin Cox Photography.
Custom Cut Lueders Stone Walkway
Custom Cut Lueders Stone Walkway
Eden Garden DesignEden Garden Design
Eden designed and fabricated this lueders limestone paver walkway; each stone was meticulously hand cut on site. Photographer: Greg Thomas, http://optphotography.com/
Casa Sonoma
Casa Sonoma
Reyes Landscape ConstructionReyes Landscape Construction
Small modern back formal full sun garden for spring in San Francisco with gravel.
Modern Landscaping
Modern Landscaping
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignExterior Worlds Landscaping & Design
The problem this Memorial-Houston homeowner faced was that her sumptuous contemporary home, an austere series of interconnected cubes of various sizes constructed from white stucco, black steel and glass, did not have the proper landscaping frame. It was out of scale. Imagine Robert Motherwell's "Black on White" painting without the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston's generous expanse of white walls surrounding it. It would still be magnificent but somehow...off. Intuitively, the homeowner realized this issue and started interviewing landscape designers. After talking to about 15 different designers, she finally went with one, only to be disappointed with the results. From the across-the-street neighbor, she was then introduced to Exterior Worlds and she hired us to correct the newly-created problems and more fully realize her hopes for the grounds. "It's not unusual for us to come in and deal with a mess. Sometimes a homeowner gets overwhelmed with managing everything. Other times it is like this project where the design misses the mark. Regardless, it is really important to listen for what a prospect or client means and not just what they say," says Jeff Halper, owner of Exterior Worlds. Since the sheer size of the house is so dominating, Exterior Worlds' overall job was to bring the garden up to scale to match the house. Likewise, it was important to stretch the house into the landscape, thereby softening some of its severity. The concept we devised entailed creating an interplay between the landscape and the house by astute placement of the black-and-white colors of the house into the yard using different materials and textures. Strategic plantings of greenery increased the interest, density, height and function of the design. First we installed a pathway of crushed white marble around the perimeter of the house, the white of the path in homage to the house’s white facade. At various intervals, 3/8-inch steel-plated metal strips, painted black to echo the bones of the house, were embedded and crisscrossed in the pathway to turn it into a loose maze. Along this metal bunting, we planted succulents whose other-worldly shapes and mild coloration juxtaposed nicely against the hard-edged steel. These plantings included Gulf Coast muhly, a native grass that produces a pink-purple plume when it blooms in the fall. A side benefit to the use of these plants is that they are low maintenance and hardy in Houston’s summertime heat. Next we brought in trees for scale. Without them, the impressive architecture becomes imposing. We placed them along the front at either corner of the house. For the left side, we found a multi-trunk live oak in a field, transported it to the property and placed it in a custom-made square of the crushed marble at a slight distance from the house. On the right side where the house makes a 90-degree alcove, we planted a mature mesquite tree. To finish off the front entry, we fashioned the black steel into large squares and planted grass to create islands of green, or giant lawn stepping pads. We echoed this look in the back off the master suite by turning concrete pads of black-stained concrete into stepping pads. We kept the foundational plantings of Japanese yews which add green, earthy mass, something the stark architecture needs for further balance. We contoured Japanese boxwoods into small spheres to enhance the play between shapes and textures. In the large, white planters at the front entrance, we repeated the plantings of succulents and Gulf Coast muhly to reinforce symmetry. Then we built an additional planter in the back out of the black metal, filled it with the crushed white marble and planted a Texas vitex, another hardy choice that adds a touch of color with its purple blooms. To finish off the landscaping, we needed to address the ravine behind the house. We built a retaining wall to contain erosion. Aesthetically, we crafted it so that the wall has a sharp upper edge, a modern motif right where the landscape meets the land.
Aménagement d'une terrasse et d'un jardin à Neuilly Sur Seine
Aménagement d'une terrasse et d'un jardin à Neuilly Sur Seine
Terrasse et Jardin de ParisTerrasse et Jardin de Paris
Aménagement d'un jardin avec terrasse. Surface totalement gazonnée. Conception d'un mini golf pour compléter le jardin. Positionnement des grands pots .
Garden Canopy in Daytime
Garden Canopy in Daytime
Charles Di Piazza ArchitectureCharles Di Piazza Architecture
Native Shrubs and Monterey Oaks separate the garden from the street front on Rio Grande. A steel canopy rusts in sympathy with the Court / Corten House, and will be eventually shrouded in vines to shade the seating area below.
Horizontal Wood Privacy Fence
Horizontal Wood Privacy Fence
Clough ConstructionClough Construction
Photo of a large modern front partial sun garden for spring in San Francisco with concrete paving.
Hillside Landscape Sanctuary in Northern California
Hillside Landscape Sanctuary in Northern California
Dig Your Garden Landscape DesignDig Your Garden Landscape Design
Alstroemeria - Princess Sara - Peruvian Lily with succulents, Aeonium Berry Nice and Agave Blue flame. Beautiful plant combination in a section of this vast hillside in San Anselmo, Northern California. The personal sanctuary of Landscape Designer Eileen Kelly, owner of Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. This sustainable garden also serves as Eileen's "living laboratory" where she observes and learns from the habits and growth of her extensive selection of plants. They include hundreds of varieties of low-water plants that range from California natives to plants from other Mediterranean regions such as South Africa and Australia, and a few exotics from Hawaii and other regions. Succulents have always been one of Eileen's favorites for their dramatic textures and low-water needs, and they co-mingle beautifully throughout the landscape. The stairways, pathways and patio areas throughout the landscape offer places to pause or linger to take in the natural surroundings and views both up close and in the distance. This diverse garden also offers an abundance of biodiversity and balance for the birds, the bees and the butterflies. Design and Photos © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design http://www.digyourgarden.com
Stylish Digs in Echo Park
Stylish Digs in Echo Park
Urban Oasis Landscape DesignUrban Oasis Landscape Design
This is an example of a medium sized modern back xeriscape full sun garden for spring in Los Angeles with a fire feature and concrete paving.
Canary Palm, Gravel, Stone, Pines, and Podocarpus
Canary Palm, Gravel, Stone, Pines, and Podocarpus
Project Xerofitus LLCProject Xerofitus LLC
Medium sized modern front driveway partial sun garden for spring in Miami with a garden path and gravel.
Shade Garden 2
Shade Garden 2
Pearson Landscape ServicesPearson Landscape Services
Photo of a large modern back xeriscape fully shaded garden for spring in Austin with a retaining wall and gravel.
Brooklyn NYC townhouse rear yard landscape design renovation:NYC custom planters
Brooklyn NYC townhouse rear yard landscape design renovation:NYC custom planters
NY Plantings Irrigation and Landscape LightingNY Plantings Irrigation and Landscape Lighting
This Brooklyn NYC townhouse rear yard landscape with out door dining, custom horizontal fence, Deck, Planter box and plantings with evergreen trees. This NYC Spring garden with drip irrigation systems and landscape light make it more beautiful. For more New York Plantings Garden Designers and Landscape contracting 432 E 14st New York, NY 10009 Call: 347-558-7051 site url: http://www.newyorkplantings.com/Home.php info@newyorkplantings.com
Modern outdoor living
Modern outdoor living
Cleator Landscape DesignCleator Landscape Design
This home was in need of a indoor outdoor entertaining space that would compliment the residents desire for clean lines and crisp architectural elements. By adding a lounging area with fire pit, water feature, outdoor kitchen and dinning spaces all atop modern pavers we were able to greatly increase the useable space while providing the polished look the client longed for.
DIY Landscape Design in a Day
DIY Landscape Design in a Day
Landscape Design in a DayLandscape Design in a Day
Clients hired Carol Lindsay of Landscape Design to design a low maintenance landscape for their retirement years. Part of the low maintenance was having synthetic lawn so they would never have to mow again. The plantings are very low water needs. http://landscape-design-in-a-day.com/customer-testimonials/true-low-maintenance-landscape-design-with-synthetic-lawn Before and after photos provided by clients.
Our Work
Our Work
Father Nature Landscapes of Birmingham, Inc.Father Nature Landscapes of Birmingham, Inc.
Inspiration for a medium sized modern front driveway partial sun garden for spring in Birmingham with a water feature and gravel.
Mid Century Modern Landscape Transformation
Mid Century Modern Landscape Transformation
Dig Your Garden Landscape DesignDig Your Garden Landscape Design
With a limited budget, we were able to transform and update this front garden with a new modern pathway, a small patio, and a variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants. The black mulch completes this modern landscape design transformation. I included a selection of plants that provide a variety of heights, colors and textures. Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' is a great low-care plant perfect along pathways. © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design
Modern Garden
Modern Garden
Large modern back full sun garden for spring in Sydney with brick paving.
Point Dume Residence
Point Dume Residence
GEL: Griffin Enright LandscapeGEL: Griffin Enright Landscape
A custom fire pit sunken into the ground by a grass berm.
Design ideas for a medium sized modern back full sun garden for spring in Los Angeles with a fire feature and gravel.
Complete Landscape design & Installation
Complete Landscape design & Installation
Lush Gardens IncLush Gardens Inc
We started with a blank canvas backyard for this brand new home in Los Angeles, California. We maximized the leaving area by adding a large concrete patio, planting to soften the walls, and adding tiles with custom lighting for visual interest.
Georgetown Wildflower Wonderland
Georgetown Wildflower Wonderland
Native Edge LandscapeNative Edge Landscape
Customer wanted to ditch their grass yard in favor of colorful native plants that would create a charming scene for friends and neighbors alike. They dreamed of a gathering space in their front yard that looked out over their native plantings, so we added a seating area with cafe lights and raised steel planters so that the plantings could be enjoyed while seated. Black star gravel was added for furniture and plant contrast, making them pop against the home and landscaping.

Modern Garden for Spring Ideas and Designs

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