PROJECT 1: PLANS
Residential Contemporary Design Outdoor Rooms: Capitola, CA

Landscape Concept Plan- Living & Dining areas for entertaining, functional spaces. CAD drafted.

PROJECT 1: PLANS
Residential Contemporary Design Outdoor Rooms: Capitola, CA

Construction Details. CAD drafted.

PROJECT 1: PLANS
Residential Contemporary Design Outdoor Rooms: Capitola, CA

Construction layout plan. CAD drafted.

PROJECT 1: BEFORE
Contemporary Design Outdoor Rooms: Capitola, CA

Backyard is hot and lacks privacy. Extreme exposure to sun and neighbors, and lack of usable space made space uninviting, unappealing and rarely used.

PROJECT 1: AFTER
Contemporary Design Outdoor Rooms: Capitola, CA

Angled arbor provides optimal light, intimacy and privacy along home's south face, seat / retaining wall creates vertical interest and ample space for entertaining. Colorful plantings will soften and beautify spaces.

PROJECT 1: AFTER
Contemporary Design Outdoor Rooms: Capitola, CA
CLIENT SAYS:

"We absolutely love it! We have lots of seating for family and friends now."

PROJECT 1: AFTER
Contemporary Design Outdoor Rooms: Capitola, CA
OUTDOOR LIVING / INDOOR VIEWS:

Outdoor experience is enhanced with contemporary fountain that produces soothing waterfall sounds. Indoor views also benefit from interesting and colorful focal "scenes."

PROJECT 2: PLAN
Front Yard Make-Over, Capitola, CA

Landscape plan, hand drawn and rendered.

PROJECT 2: BEFORE
Dry Streambed Overgrown
Front Yard Make-Over, Capitola, CA

An existing river rock drainage is indistinguishable from the jumble of annual and perennial garden plants which have overtaken and covered it.

PROJECT 2: AFTER
Dry Streambed Restored
Front Yard Make-Over, Capitola, CA

The dry creekbed is uncovered and enhanced with fresh rock and accent boulders.

PROJECT 2: AFTER
Color Border Extension
Front Yard Make-Over, Capitola, CA

Border is expanded with colorful plants that will stay put and not crowd out the rock streambed drainage.

PROJECT 2: BEFORE
Entry Lacks Definition
Front Yard Make-Over, Capitola, CA

A messy planting strip near the entry walk and porch visually distracts from the dominant brick pillars which should serve to define the entry.

PROJECT 2: AFTER
Entry Clearly Defined
Front Yard Make-Over, Capitola, CA

Strong entry is enchanting with red sentry pillar pots to highlight the red door, soft grasses, and fragrant, deep red Don Juan climbing roses.

PROJECT 2: BEFORE
Undefined Shrub Border
Front Yard Make-Over, Capitola, CA

Side yard has a collection of mis-matched shrubs and garden perennials, with no definition to the border or stone walk access to backyard.

PROJECT 2: AFTER
Shrub Border Defined
Front Yard Make-Over, Capitola, CA

Side yard is now home to colorful shrubs and perennials for a beautiful lawn backdrop. Bright plantings accent newly defined walkway access to backyard.

PROJECT 2: AFTER
Shrub Border Defined
Front Yard Make-Over, Capitola, CA
CLIENT SAYS:

"It turned out great - better than expected. Lots of color and texture just like I wanted, and easy to keep up. No more jumble of plants in the creek bed - Beautiful!"

PROJECT 3: COLOR CONCEPT PLAN
Residential Landscape Design
Santa Cruz, CA

Conceptual plan for a small, angular lot: Angled lines maximize use and open feel of outdoor living areas, access paths with lush green, open landscape. CAD drafted, hand rendered..

PROJECT 3: CONSTRUCTION PLAN
Residential Landscape Design
Santa Cruz, CA

Landscape construction plan for outdoor living areas, access paths with lush green, open landscape. CAD drafted.

PROJECT 3: BEFORE
Residential Landscape Design
Santa Cruz, CA

BEFORE: A home remodel called for a complete demolition of existing home and landscape. An entirely new landscape was created.

PROJECT 3: AFTER
Residential Landscape Design
Santa Cruz, CA

AFTER: Open feeling that client desired is apparent here. Angular backyard is incorporated into angled lines of lawn, deck and planting beds.

PROJECT 3: VIEW FROM BEDROOM
Residential Landscape Design
Santa Cruz, CA
CLIENT SAYS:

"Everything went really well. I have very much enjoyed it and have received many compliments. I love how it worked out from both the inside and outside perspective. I particularly like having a deck with no railings, so that I have an unimpeded view. Thanks so much for all your help!"

PROJECT 3: AFTER
Residential Landscape Design
Santa Cruz, CA

AFTER: Lawn / Deck connection to other back yard living area at brick patio.

PROJECT 3: AFTER
Residential Landscape Design
Santa Cruz, CA

AFTER: Brick patio adds a private, intimate space off the living room, thereby maximizing usable spaces in an odd-shaped yard.

PROJECT 4: COLOR CONCEPT PLAN
Residential Tropical-Effect with Oak
Small home for a young family
Scotts Valley, CA

An existing mature Valley Oak is preserved through use of artificial lawn, a wide border of drought tolerants and lush-looking natives. Tropicals are placed near house. CAD drafted, hand rendered.

PROJECT 4: BEFORE
Residential Tropical-Effect with Oak
Small home for a young family
Scotts Valley, CA

BEFORE: Narrow side yard access to backyard, lack of definition to tiny front yard space.

PROJECT 4: AFTER
Residential Tropical-Effect with Oak
Small home for a young family
Scotts Valley, CA

AFTER: Slate pave stones with creeping groundcover create a welcome front entry and backyard access. Small flowering tree will give just the right amount of shade and privacy.

PROJECT 4: AFTER
Residential Tropical-Effect with Oak
Small home for a young family
Scotts Valley, CA

Slate pave stones with creeping groundcover create a welcome front entry and backyard access.

PROJECT 4: AFTER
Residential Tropical-Effect with Oak
Small home for a young family
Scotts Valley, CA

AFTER: Reflective south wall is home to heat-loving & drought-tolerant native buckwheat that spills over a low wall, attracting butterflies and beneficial insects.

PROJECT 4: BEFORE
Residential Tropical-Effect with Oak
Small home for a young family
Scotts Valley, CA

BEFORE: Backyard had large, water thirsty lawn area under a heritage oak, and narrow, undefined border.

PROJECT 4: AFTER
Residential Tropical-Effect with Oak
Small home for a young family
Scotts Valley, CA

AFTER: Clients desired tropicals, so they were tucked near house to avoid their higher water needs causing oak root fungus under old oak. Palms and tropical plants create a lush oasis.

PROJECT 4: AFTER
Residential Tropical-Effect with Oak
Small home for a young family
Scotts Valley, CA
CLIENT SAYS:

"The yard went in nicely. The flagstone in the front and side yard were laid fast and it all looks gorgeous now that it's all done!"

PROJECT 4: AFTER
Residential Tropical-Effect with Oak
Small home for a young family
Scotts Valley, CA

AFTER: A semi-circle of artificial turf helps preserve old oak, and allows for a large border with tropical-looking natives requiring little water.

PROJECT 5: CONSTRUCTION PLAN
Residential Seaside Landscape West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA

Hardscape and Planting Plan for Seacoast conditions. CAD drafted.

PROJECT 5:
Residential Seaside Landscape West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA

Client wanted a minimalist, open view to the ocean. Drought-resistant plants provide almost zero maintenance for a family vacation home.

PROJECT 5:
Residential Seaside Landscape Santa Cruz, CA

Salt-tolerant and long-lived native and Mediterranean plants will fill in for subtle color.

PROJECT 5:
Residential Seaside Landscape Santa Cruz, CA

Phormium 'Dusky Chief' Flax provides drama and color contrast for this seaside garden.

PROJECT 6:
Functional - Use Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

Ornamental grasses provide movement, screening and easy maintenance for a front yard dining patio for this contemporary vacation home. Hand drafted.

PROJECT 6: BEFORE
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

Old and unstable white picket fence appears out of context with style of home and beach-y neighborhood.

PROJECT 6: AFTER
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home
CLIENT SAYS:

"Thanks Susan - we are very happy with our new landscape. The garden looks great - open and peaceful with privacy - just as we wanted it!"

New landscape combines casual patio space for outdoor living / dining with subtle screening of ornamental grasses and easy access along driveway. Native and drought tolerant Ceanothus 'Dark Star' and 'Forest Pansy' Redbud tree provide additional privacy and a punch of color.

PROJECT 6: AFTER
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

New garden shimmers with sunlit Miscanthus ornamental grasses that sway and rustle in the breeze and help screen a new patio.

PROJECT 6: BEFORE
UNSTABLE ROCK PATHS
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

Irregularly rounded stepping stone paths are unsightly, too narrow, and are an uncomfortable, unstable and potentially dangerous walking surface. Note existing pattern on stamped concrete driveway, which will remain.

PROJECT 6: BEFORE
EXISTING STONE TO BE RE-USED ON-SITE
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

ECOLOGICALLY SOUND "GREEN" DESIGN:
Existing narrow and unstable rock paths contain a significant volume of material. Stone is unattractive and has an irregular surface unsuitable for paths, but is solid building material. Project budget considerations, fuel & material efficiency, and economy of design support appropriate re-use of existing materials on-site.

PROJECT 6: AFTER
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

Broad square stepping stones ensure safe access to front door.

PROJECT 6: AFTER
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

Old stone material is used as a base for a low dry-stacked stone retaining wall.

PROJECT 6: AFTER
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

Concrete pattern of existing driveway is repeated in a stamped border on patio. Angled corners of patio reflect shape of the distinctive front bay window.

PROJECT 6: BEFORE
EXISTING RETAINING WALL LIMITS USE OF FRONT YARD AS LIVING SPACE
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

A low retaining edge set-back two feet from fence, and a little-maintained grassy, sloped front yard prohibit best use and enjoyment of front yard as outdoor living space.

PROJECT 6: AFTER
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

Retaining wall at sidewalk expands usable area to include screening grasses and a large concrete patio for casual front yard entertaining and family gatherings.

PROJECT 6: AFTER
Functional Use - Front Yard
Capitola Vacation Home

Large patio has easy access for rolling barbecue grill stored in the backyard.

PROJECT 7:PLAN / SPECIFICATIONS
Urban lot used for RV Storage
All Native Plants - City of Capitola

A simple landscape plan with planting specifications and site preparation notes for a low-maintenance all-native landscape with minimal water needs prepared for the property owner of an urban lot. Hand drawn.

PROJECT 7: BEFORE
Urban lot used for RV Storage
All Native Plants - City of Capitola

The owner of this RV storage lot was asked by the City to provide appropriate landscaping to visually improve view from street.

PROJECT 7: AFTER
Urban lot used for RV Storage
All Native Plants - City of Capitola

A low-maintenance landscape was designed to accommodate the City's request, using all native ground cover, low growing shrubs, trees and vines. An attractive fence and landscape serve to screen the parked RVs and open field from street view.

PROJECT 7: AFTER
Urban lot used for RV Storage
All Native Plants - City of Capitola

All plants are located in a mounded raised bed for necessary fast drainage at root zone. Redwood mulch and mycorrhizal fungi were added to hold in moisture, promote optimal healthy root growth, and allow tender new plants to become established with minimal supplemental water.

PROJECT 7: AFTER
Urban lot used for RV Storage
All Native Plants - City of Capitola

Native Coast Live Oak is complimented with colorful Eriogonum var. grande rubescens - Red Buckwheat and low-growing manzanita ground cover. Native vines add visual interest to fence.

Garden Display: "Heaven on Earth" Santa Cruz County Fair, 2006

Bird's eye perspective rendering and plant list for a public garden display, "Heaven on Earth," which was built for the Santa Cruz County Fair, 2006.

Garden Display: "Heaven on Earth" Santa Cruz County Fair, 2006

Garden Display: "Heaven on Earth" Santa Cruz County Fair, 2006

Garden Display: "Heaven on Earth" Santa Cruz County Fair, 2006

Garden Display: "Heaven on Earth" Santa Cruz County Fair, 2006

Florida Residence Site Plan
CLIENT SAYS: "Perfect plan - so nice, the whole process could not have gone more smoothly. Excellent design!"

An online project for a client in Florida who had a built estate home in need of site development. Plan included placement of out buildings, paths, pool, patio, fountain, outdoor lighting and planting areas.

English Garden Effect w/ Natives & Edibles, Rio del Mar, CA

A front yard is rock-terraced with an English country garden "feel," but much less water use. Colorful and drought-tolerant California native and Mediterranean annuals, herbs, perennials and edible shrubs & trees are massed for color and a mix of formal/informal forms with a semi-private informal flagstone patio and paths.

Residential Landscape Design Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, CA

Built-in seat wall tree planters provide needed shade with additional functional space. Curved patio / paths soften hard scape. Hand drafted.

Drought Tolerant Plants & Deck / Entry San Jose, CA

A naturalistic front garden designed for privacy and color, and a private entry deck for expansion of family's living area. Hand drawn and rendered.

Small Commercial Apartment Buidling Planting Plan, Mountain View, CA

Small Cottage Garden, Santa Cruz, CA
Landscape Plan

A quaint, historic home in Santa Cruz. Backyard garden design for a small space, with edible landscaping, privacy screening, focal point fountain, and an open redesign of the deck, with below-deck rainwater harvesting modular units.

Small Cottage Garden, Santa Cruz, CA
Layout Plan and Details

Layout plan and construction details for under-deck placement of an underground modular rainwater catchment system, arbors and grading.

Residential Terraced Front Entry Soquel, CA

A brick and flagstone entry with poured concrete curved retaining walls, step lighting and drought tolerant perennials. CAD drafted.

Student-built garden from my class: "Design Your Garden" Capitola Parks & Rec.

Student-designed and built garden, completed after taking my community education course, "Design Your Dream Garden." This student says: "My garden is growing very well, thanks to you. The design has been very enjoyable for me- both in the satisfaction of having a big part in doing it, and the enjoyment I get from seeing all the beautiful flowers.
The design process was enjoyable, but it was a lot to bite off in such a short period of time. Your last class of individual help saved the day for me and allowed me to complete it in a very satisfying way. The installation was a large project but it went well. I have no maintenance issues, having installed weed cloth, gopher baskets and irrigation from the very beginning."

Student plan from my class: "Design Your Garden" Capitola Parks & Rec.

Student-designed landscape plan, completed after taking my class, "Design Your Dream Garden."

Student's plan from my class: "Design Your Garden" Capitola Parks & Rec.

Student landscape plan, completed after taking my class, "Design Your Dream Garden."

Residential Landscape - Young Family Santa Cruz, CA

A fun and functional landscape for a family with young children, and a peaceful place for adults to relax. CAD drafted.

Contemporary Garden Design, Santa Cruz, CA

A colorful, modern, geometric, landscape design to blend with existing post modern architecture. Color and form are repeated, with strong axis lines and focal points. Natural areas and clean lines combine to balance natural and modern forms.

Residential Landscape, Palo Alto, CA

A colorful redesgin of a backyard for low maintenance and drought resistance.

Residential Landscape, Palo Alto, CA

A second alternative for deck redesign, fountain retrofit, and a planting redesign for color, shade and easy maintenance.

Hillside Planting Plan, Scotts Valley, CA

A California native / drought tolerant planting design for a steep, hillside of California Live Oak and mixed trees / chaparral. Designed to be minimal maintenance and attract hummingbirds.

Hillside Site Preparation & Details, Scotts Valley, CA

Site preparation instructions and planting/construction details for a steep natural oak/grassland hillside.

Hillside Retaining Wall Elevation, Scotts Valley, CA

Street side concrete retaining wall concept for a steep hillside.

Commercial Master Plan: Conference Center

Program development and design layout of a 5-acre site in Nipomo, California. Building placement and site layout for housing, recreation, dining, fitness and meeting space. Hand drafted.

Commercial Detail Site Plan: Conference Center

Site layout for housing, recreation, dining, fitness and meeting space. Hand drafted.

Commercial Conceptual Master Plan: Blacklake Conference Center Detail Plan

Conceptual design of public dining and meeting facilities. Hand drafted.

Commerical Conceptual Site Plan Arroyo Grande Community Center Plaza

Spanish-influenced plaza centered on a public fountain utilizing large Spanish tile and rose quartz. Hand drafted.

Commerical Conceptual Site Plan Arroyo Grande Community Center Plaza

Design and layout for a five-building community center center. Hand drafted.

Creek Restoration & Public Bike/Pedestrian Access Path, San Luis Obispo, CA

A three-mile section of creek is enhanced with willow riparian habitat plantings, and a rookery for Great Blue Herons is protected with the addition of riparian woodland buffer. A bike/pedestrian trail connects the creek's upper and lower sections with the downtown area, and storm water retention designed for 100 year floods protects downstream highway and businesses.

Environmental Restoration Plan: Freshwater Wetland / Pond Design

A three-acre pond and freshwater wetlands were designed as mitigation for removal of one acre of wetland/open water habitat. Hand drafted.

Environmental Restoration Plan: Conceptual Pond Grading Plan.

Grading concept illustrates contour design for various water levels to create needed freshwater wetland. Hand drafted.

Environmental Restoration Plan: Conceptual pond / wetland sections

These section drawings illustrate proposed depth of open water and shallow wetland habitat. Hand drafted.

Native Landscape Enhancement Plan: AJ Cummings Park / O'Neill Open Space

Site vicinity and project location.

Native Landscape Enhancement Plan: AJ Cummings Park / O'Neill Open Space

A volunteer coordination plan to enhance native landscapes, remove invasives and restore grassland.

Native Landscape Enhancement Plan: AJ Cummings Park / O'Neill Open Space

Detail drawings and Specifications for a volunteer restoration project.