2019 Landscape Projects - Tetherow

Landscape Projects 2019

2019 was another year of wonderful projects and gorgeous landscape transformations  and I continue to work with incredible clients and contractors.  Following are pictures of some of my projects that got installed this year:

Tetherow Backyard Upgrade Extraordinaire! 

Before: Most of the pre-existing backyard was a slight slope of native grasses.

After: A revamped, upgraded backyard for all sorts of enjoyment!  A clean modern concrete wall contains a lush lawn with native perennials and grasses to soften the transition to the native landscape beyond.  Good Life Landscaping found a stunning Juniper 'Ghost Tree' which creates a gorgeous focal point when viewed from the patio.

 After:  From the northeast corner of the property and the Tetherow Golf Course, the new perennials and grasses will soften the view.  We can also see the landscape boulders creating additional interest and texture, unifying the modern patio/lawn area and the soft native landscape beyond.

   After:  Previously this area was bumpy dirt and grass from the rain and snow melt from the roof-line above.  Now it is a modern and stylish path down into the landscape that will stand up to any rain or snow storms.

  After:  The landscape contractor Good Life Landscaping installed these large boulders as seating surrounding the Desert Stone gravel patio and path area.  The boulders are actually quite comfortable and provide a great somewhat tucked away area for the teenagers to gather.

  After:  The pre-existing patio was already cut at an angle and so we played with those lines to make the new lawn with diagonal lines to keep it fresh and interesting.  The home owners now enjoy a lush, level lawn to further enjoy the outdoors and the gorgeous views from their Tetherow home.

Landscape designed by Carlseng Designs 

Landscape installed by Good Life Landscaping

Xeriscape Backyard Makeover

So many of my clients here in Bend Oregon are looking for a low water, low maintenance, fire safe landscape and deer resistant as well.  It is often a challenge to make all of that work but here is a wonderful example of just how good it can look.

Before any work was done, the backyard was largely untouched and full of flammable Manzanita bushes.

Plus, without anything to distract the eye, the view of the neighbor's house was all too apparent.

Since this client, like so many of us in Bend, likes to spend her time out playing, it needed to be a low maintenance landscape and attractive as well.

I came up with a palette of plants to provide seasonal interest that was deer resistant, low water and good for beneficial pollinators that invites the client into the landscape.

What a fun project and gorgeous results!!!  By choosing a few key plants and repeating them throughout the landscape, unity within the yard was obtained.  Dwarf evergreen elements were also incorporated in addition to the native Chokecherry Tree that provides interest and habitat for the bird population.

Besides a good landscape design, having an excellent contractor install it is crucial.  Anna Vacca of Anna's Gardening installed this garden and knows exactly how to make plants happy.

Happy First Day of Spring!

Happy Spring!

Evergreens for an entry

One of my clients has a large property out by the Bend airport with a very large lawn leading up to the house.  We want to mark the entry path in an obvious and welcoming way and I am considering planting two evergreen trees as "sentries".  I was going to use two Crabapple Trees but since our winters are so long I think evergreens would be a better choice.

Here are my choices so far:

Korean Silberlocke Fir

The Korean Silberlocke Fir has up curved green needles with contrasting silver/white undersides and produces an abundance of large showy cones.  It is slow growing to 10' tall and 6' wide in 10 years, ultimately 20' tall.   This selection is about 5-7' tall and can be found at Schultz Farm and Garden between Bend and Redmond.

Green Columnar Spiral Juniper Tree

Junipers are very hardy in Central Oregon (they are considered weeds by many) but can be very useful when trained right.  A spiral trained Juniper is stunning and adds shape and style to the landscape but does require light pruning throughout the year to maintain a nice shape.  

Here is another version this time of a Skyrocket Juniper which has a more grey/green/blue color than the one shown above.

'Acrocona' Spruce

Acrocona Spruce is a lovely evergreen with purple cones and is a medium irregular grower to about 4-10 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide and does best in full sun. Another great option for a small space.

Which do you like the best?  I am veering towards the Silberlocke because I like it so much!

Gorgeous Gardens in Bend

Whenever I am driving or biking around town my eyes are always peeled for great flower combinations or beautiful landscapes.

I love the front yard of my friend Anna's house, she is a gardener and you can tell, it's all gorgeous perennials.

She also has the best sidewalk strip planting in town!

With my daisies and echinacea in bloom, I am having lots of visiting pollinators, check out this happy camper!

Plant a diverse garden and you will love the results!  Happy Gardening!

Creating Great Landscapes for Central Oregon

Creating the ideal landscape for clients is my passion and it totally warms my heart when my clients say things like this happy client:

"We think the yard looks great!  It is exactly what we were looking/hoping for. Everything seems to be doing well so far and the new  mulch finishes it off wonderfully.  We enjoy sitting out front gazing out over it and are looking forward to seeing it mature. "

:)   Have a great and glorious day everyone!