Secret Garden
Nestled in our home neighborhood of Los Feliz sat a backyard of concrete, marathon sod, gravel, and a large ficus hedge. But that’s only half the story. This backyard was also home to some beautiful gems that served as immediate inspiration for what we’d fondly refer to as the secret garden – a large spineless yucca framing the rear of the yard (though technically located on another property); a large bougainvillea growing along a chain link fence shared with the neighboring yard; a lime tree that just needed a little pruning; and a very adorable pine tree.
From the start, certain elements of the yard were obvious and dreamt up by our client long before we came into the picture – less grass; room for a fire pit; space for a large dining table; lots of native plants; and clear access to the garage for future use as a guest/hangout space. Other elements, however, revealed themselves as the design process (and in some cases construction) was underway – no concrete; a custom gate dividing the driveway from the yard; and a custom wood platform and stairs over the existing back stoop. It was actually some of these later elements that came to truly transform the space.
The custom horizontal-slatted gate became a portal from the home’s long, narrow concrete driveway into a true private garden, fully concealed from the street. The blooming Bougainvillea was a wonderful surprise at the entry (we can take no credit) and the beautiful deep pink flowers helped set the tone for a colorful mix of California natives and other drought tolerant plants. As you wander through the garden, an eclectic collection of shrubs and trees, including a palo verde, a spineless yucca, a western redbud, a manzanita, san pedro cactus (not a tree though), and a Kashmir cypress (a nod to the other conifer on the property), guide you past a small bubbling water feature to the fire pit, a custom corten steel fire ring large enough for an intimate group of friends to enjoy. Then, from the “fire pit” perch - the highest part of the yard - the garden takes on a completely different perspective and feel, as if sitting at a river mouth of california gold gravel flowing around islands of artemisia, yarrow, pitcher sage, penstemon, and mulch. It all feels whimsical, warm, and inviting, just as we’d imagine how a secret garden should feel.
Much gratitude to Fabian and the rest of the Roldan Brothers Landscaping team — Jorge, Darwin, Antonio, and Miguel — for their stewardship of this garden and for bringing us in to participate in its transformation.
And, thank you so much to our client Brian for entrusting us with his vision and allowing us to build upon it along the way.
