XERIC COURTYARD GARDEN

Formerly a disordered assortment of lawn and native plant species, this front yard was uninviting and lacked the structural organization to live and relax. "There was no there, there," as Gregory Thomas, the garden’s designer, put it. The main philosophy to the approach was therefore to create a livable area that was outdoors, amidst nature, connected to the street yet set apart as a semi private zone. This separation was achieved by installing a well-scaled, low concrete wall parallel to the street, high enough to define a boundary but low enough to sit upon. The wall also functions as a water conduit that feeds the small pond that is the focal point of the garden's entrance. The entrance pathway, made of cast concrete pavers, is directly obstructed by the pond to create a necessary engagement with the water on the way to the front door.

The yard’s maintenance-intensive grass was replaced with crushed granite and very low-water native plant species to reduce the need for watering, mowing, and fertilizing. The new plants are placed artfully in clusters throughout the garden amidst the gravel.

All these elements working together create a habitat that is livable for humans and a variety of wildlife that associate and coexist with the native plant species. The yard has become a place to spend time, to sit with nature, or to dine out doors. And it also provides direct interaction for its owners with the larger community, as evidenced by the many passers by who stop to chat or sit on the wall and enjoy the day. The garden draws people in and becomes a meeting pace, a place where life happens.