Justine's Italian heritage, desire for a modern facelift on an outdated suburban yard, and Backyard Habitat Certification drove the design for this large Lake Oswego front yard. 

A shady slope can be a tricky location, but our native woodland plants in the PNW are so adaptable to shady situations. Within months of planting, this micro front yard became a lush slope of green.

A writer who dreams of a Japanese garden finds a meditative sanctuary in this native woodland planting that invites wildlife to visit (with some Japanese favorites like anemones tucked in).

Fresh garden beds with deer-proof plants and cedar wood chip pathways under picnic tables replace outdated topiaries and patchy grass for an outdoor beer garden at this 118 year old building serving as a honkey-tonk music venue and restaurant/bar

A low maintenance design for plants that can handle heat was needed for a hands-off rental property. A massive slope of ivy was replaced with xeriscaped retaining walls that give a wild effect with texture and color throughout the year. This yard receives zero supplemental water and the plants thrive.

Planning a garden in the later years of life merits different questions and goals. In this garden, we focused low-maintenance shrubs and perennials around a three-tiered round paver patio for easy accessibility and care. There's still lots of room to play with growing cut flowers for Liz's Ikebana class.

A slope once hidden by a wall of juniper hedge gets a new lease on life with native plants for habitat support in this Backyard Habitat Certified front yard.

New garden beds flanking a stairway to a hobby farm replaced a drab gravel parking lot. Colorful flowers and drought tolerant evergreen shrubs provide year round interest.