Fairy Yardmother Landscape Design: Working with Stone

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.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Working with Stone

Dry Creek going into DG Pathway

I absolutely love stone! From pea gravel or decomposed granite to 500 lbs boulders, stone is a wonderful material to work with. Stone can be used as the floor of a patio or pathway. It can form a dry creek through the garden. Boulders give children a place to climb and play, and provide a seat for the weary gardener.

I do not love it when gravel is used as a mulch to cover an entire yard with a few plants thrown here and there. In that case, stone is a harsh material that can increase heat and glare.

Lava rock at a mid-century home

When boulders, gravel and flagstone are used artistically in combination with plants and other materials, something magical can happen. Stone adds color, texture, shape and a sense of place to a garden. Chosen wisely, it can help define the style of a landscape and contrast beautifully with plants and architecture.

I choose materials with an eye to the needs of the property and questions of use -- do we need a pathway? a place for rainwater to seep into the ground? But most importantly, I choose materials based on my client's taste.

Here are some recent Fairy Yardmother Designs that show off my clients' style using different sorts of stone for various uses.

Red Sedona Flagstone with colorful pebbles and boulders

Mixing flagstone with pebbles of different sizes in complimentary colors can make for a very pleasing pathway. Large, colorful boulders add interest and play off succulents and red flagstone beautifully.