Mercer Island

The client requested a lush garden with lots of color and a place to grow vegetables and cut flowers. In the front yard, an impossibly steep lawn was replaced by extending planting areas and creating a hillside garden with multi-season interest. Highly visible, it provides curb appeal that benefits the entire neighborhood. In the private backyard, a set of natural stone risers leads to a cozy flagstone seating area overlooking the garden. New plantings include perennials, hydrangeas and grasses with broadleaf and coniferous evergreens for structure. A lacy canopy of Japanese maple(Acer palmatum) ensures privacy and climbing hydrangeas(Hydrangea anomala) and trailing vines soften an existing cement block wall. Raised garden beds for vegetables and flowers are conveniently located near the kitchen on the sunny side of the house.