Fairy Yardmother Landscape Design: Cactus with a Modern Twist in Mt Washington

Fairy Yardmother Landscape Design

by Kathy Oberg, Landscape Designer, Central Coast CA.
FairyYardmother[at]gmail[dot]com

Thank you for visiting my site. I enjoy bringing you pictures of gardens, plants, and ideas from sunny California. I love sharing after-photos that show how my landscape plans, plant lists and layouts come to life.
As a designer, I use plants to create drama, provide color and form, and compliment the architectural style of your home.

I strive to provide a buffer from sun, street, and neighbors while still fostering connections.
Inspired plant choices and site layout can make any space a success.

I am a Certified Watershed Wise Professional, with techniques to improve soil health and keep more water on your property.
I can help you makeover your patio, paths, planting areas, or entire property. I will consult with you, choose a look you love, and compose a plan and plant list to update your landscape, re-using what you already have wherever we can.

Each project is different because it is about making your space really shine.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Cactus with a Modern Twist in Mt Washington

AFTER DETAIL

On this project, my design plan included updates to the existing hardscape and new plantings in all areas of the property. It was an opportunity to make a wonderful house shine.

This was also a chance to work with cacti, which lend themselves to dramatic compositions.

Removing existing brick accents, especially brick caps on all the walls, and having a contractor replace with a simple coat of stucco, simplified the landscape and brought in a much cleaner, more modern look. Now the plantings will really pop as they grow in.

The Contractors did a beautiful job with all the aspects -- concrete work, preparation and planting, and DG installation.

The Front Yard:

BEFORE

AFTER

The clients love Cactus and Succulents, so I relied heavily on varieties of those, with the addition of a few other flowering plants. I wanted to create areas of tall, vertical cactus among lower elements -- succulents, etc. to recreate some of the looks the clients were most drawn to. Some of the Cacti/Succulent combinations are in greens and yellows, others are in a blue/gray palette.

BEFORE

AFTER Newly Planted

The Patio:

BEFORE

AFTER
Newly Planted

With most of the brick accents gone, the whole property is more calm and soothing, especially in the patio. Plants are starting out a bit small here, but they will grow in over the next one to three years and soften the walls. The clients are actually enjoying the feeling of space and order that comes with new plantings.

The Back Yard:

BEFORE

AFTER

We updated the planter around the large existing tree to great effect.
The tree had problems due to the planter being too high. In my design, I lowered the planter to sitting height, and reconfigured it so that it continues along the length of the retaining wall behind it, making a more pleasing footprint.
We used DG everywhere, but only compacted it in the pathway and fire pit areas.
The contractors were able to bring my ideas to life beautifully.

Just Completed -- Ready for Some Comfy Chairs
around that Fire Pit and some People!

Fairy Yardmother Landscape Design