Creating a distinctive front entry can set the tone for a landscape design and the interface between the house and the garden. For this project in San Rafael we integrated a distinctive front gate with sandblasted glass panels with raised planters and an overhead arbor.
Here is a planting design for a front yard in San Rafael that we are currently developing. The front yard design focuses on the front entrance gate and arbor. The yard is also shallow and to keep things in proper scale we focused on a deer resistant ornamental grasses and blooming perennials. The unique element all ready in place is a Hearts in San Francisco art piece that we used a focal point for the yard.
(Click image to see larger version)
For more and more landscape projects a key consideration is the hot topic of sustainable best practices, environmental impact, and how best to green projects.
This drive to green everything from carpets to cars isn’t unique to the landscape industry, its one of the major driving forces in both new marketing campaigns and genuine efforts to reduce and mitigate environmental impacts.
As I attended a workshop and last month’s North Coast dinner meeting by Trathan Heckman of Daily Acts here in Petaluma, it became clear to me that this idea of sustainability is really all encompassing. Trathan’s work and presentations on gray water systems, local agriculture, and community and back yard gardens brought this home. Our choices make a difference- from the decisions we make on things like irrigation and plantings, to what we eat and where it’s grown.
As Thanksgiving approaches and we give thanks, we can also consider the sustainability of the meal itself. We can support local economies and local agriculture, and also sustainable agricultural practices. Consider instead of a typical mass produced supermarket turkey for example, an alternative Heritage Turkey, bred in a free range environment, with reduced environmental impacts (or for even less enviornmental impact, skip the turkey). Good Shepherd Poultry and a growing number of other small turkey farmers are working to re-introduce heritage birds and raise turkeys more sustainably.
This project in Novato was a multi-phase project that grew from an initial focus on one section of the yard, to a comprehensive new grouping of flagstone patios, steps, and plantings.
We used a Dusty Way Indian Sandstone to tie together the front entry, side landings and steps, and a large rear patio.
“We had such a good experience we increased the work 4 fold. Workers turned up every day and left the site clean and safe. I would recommend O’Connell for anyone wanting a top quality job with excellent project management” -Juliet, Novato
