Residence of Julie and John Hanson, Poulsbo, Washington.

Entrance to front drive.   Requirements:   Ease of maintenance, year round interest, low growing plants so that the address would not be covered up as it has been by summer growth.

Suggested:   Viburnum Davidii in combination with ornamental grasses and existing Heather, leave the existing Ceanothus to the side of the fence, remove roses and little rocks from around the border.
This planting combination of Viburnum Davidii and ornamental grasses is followed through to the side of the house as well, where we also added Red twig dogwood.

Consistency is important in any plan, especially when the plantings are evergreen.
Julie has many flowers and roses around the property, it was important to keep this simple and strong.

Residence of Julie and John Hanson.   Drainfield.

What do you do with a drainfield?   Julie looks down at this from many rooms of the house.   Suggestion:   A swath of mown grass beginning at and connected to the front lawn, cuts through a field of grasses, wheat and oats.   A firm structure will separate the upper area from the wild ravine below.   Julie enjoys collecting wildflower seeds, so soon there will be wildflowers in the mix too.   The children can feed the oats to the family rabbit and Julie can use the ornamental wheat for art projects.

Quick top view of Hanson residence drainfield project outlining the swaths and where the seeds should be sown, where the mown path will go, etc.

Residence of Marian and Andre Olanie, Poulsbo, Washington.

Front garden, existing fruit tree.
Marian needed something with clean lines to give a nice transition from the raised vegetable beds to the soon-to-be shrub border (see below).   She had a large quantity of small size lavender plants that she had brought from her previous home, and I used them exclusively in the plan.   To give the look of full, large cushions of lavender, they will be planted 3 in a hole tied lightly together.   (This works beautifully with lavender.)

This picture shows only the middle view of a long border that will function as a block.   The border continues to the left and right.

The Olanies needed privacy from the neighbors as well as quiet from the road.   They had put up a fence, but it had not done enough to block... one house in particular.   At the same time, Marian did not want to seem unfriendly.

Plants used: Vine Maples on each side, Italian Cypress, Redtwig Dogwood, Viburnum Tinus, and more of the lavender that will be planted under and around the fruit tree. (see above).

Rear patio - Olanie Residence.

Again, a clean easy to care for look was needed here.   The Olanies use this space for eating in the Summer.   Terra cotta pots (very large) filled with the same Italian Cypress that is used in the front blocking border (see above).   Gravel mulch.   The Cypress will be restricted in it's strong growth by the pots.

I suggested planting Helicrysum Petiolare 'limelight' in the ground around the base of the pots and in-between them.   It will love the heat provided by the gravel and pots and keep with the modern, green look that is wanted, while softening the edges of the concrete driveway.   I love this plant in the ground even though it is almost exclusively grown in pots here.   (Common name: licorice plant)

Overview of the blocking border done for Marian and Andre Olanie.