Gravel Garden

Our goal for this unique property was to create a stylish, drought resistant and pollinator friendly front yard – visually and ecologically connected to the surrounding landscape while celebrating the unique retro style of the house. Through a mix of low, clustered plantings, structural shrubs and sculptural hardscape elements, the design strikes a balance between a naturalistic native garden and an orderly mid century style front yard. The majority of the plant species chosen for the design are pollinator-friendly natives, many of which could be found throughout the woods and meadows of neighboring Battle Creek Park. The gravel garden, rock garden and rugged dry creek take inspiration from the house’s minimalist courtyard and modern gardens of the era while strategically managing influxes of water throughout the season. The design extends to the boulevard strip where a low pollinator meadow contributes ecological value to the neighborhood and highlights the distinctive horizontality of the house.