This home is perched high up on a mountain, like a ship soaring above the landscape below. The design for this garden is informal, sustainable and Mediterranean inspired with several areas to relax in and focuses on the borrowed mountain views.
The cantilevered wood railings on the deck were changed in the rear garden to accommodate a newly designed deck space. The various garden areas have several elevation changes that were addressed, requiring structural walls, steps, landings and a newly constructed deck surrounding a pool in the rear garden.
Old fences and arbours were removed to open up the views and wide, wood steps allowed for easy access to the lower orchard level. The final design incorporates a colourful variety of both rugged and unique textural and scented plant material, attracting an abundance of insect and bird life.
Ann has been a godsend in helping us develop a steep Sonoma County hillside behind our house. Our goal was to dig out part of the hillside and put in a 45 foot pool, to build a deck around the pool and to then terrace and plant the remaining hillside behind the pool. The project is not quite complete at this point but all the hardscaping is done and it looks absolutely beautiful! Although Ann is not a landscape architect she was instrumental in designing the deck surrounding the pool, in designing the contours of the retaining walls used in the terracing, in determining the type of stone used as well as in designing the shape and materials used to create a beautiful meandering staircase going up the hillside to the 3 terrace levels. She advised the deck contractor and the stone mason throughout each phase of the building process. We are now about to plant the hillside and Ann has provided some beautiful color sketchs of the terraced hillside and the plants she thinks would work well in our microclimate. She came up with the designs after lengthy discussions with us on our preferences. She has a spectacular eye for color, texture and scent and her designs reflect her desire to create a garden that has year round appeal. Her designs are exquisite and focus heavily on native California plants accented by others from South African, Australia and the Mediterranean region. These blend in perfectly with the oaks and olive trees already on the property as well as with the rolling hills which surround it. There is a smooth and effortless transition going from the planted garden into the surrounding hillside and meadows. Ann is pleasure to work with, is very responsive and is both personal and professional. I couldn’t be happier with the work she’s done for us and recommend her without reservation!
– Michael D’Arata