Front yard fabulous

Gioannini was engaged to help clients with a front yard that, as seen in this "before" shot, had nothing that "gave the impression of having been placed with any forethought or intent. The existing water feature was not functional, nor did it make sense from an aesthetic standpoint. The rest of the courtyard was haphazard plantings and rock mulch." On the homeowners' wish list was a new water feature, a secondary seating area, an area for season planting and more color.

At the top of Gioannini's list was to address the broken water feature, depicted at left. "Not only did the water course originate at the base of a tree," she says, "but the old farmhouse pump style didn’t fit the design aesthetic of the home." Her solution was a more natural water feature with a sub-grade circulation basin. The sub-grade basin also helps keep the pump cleaner, so it would require less maintenance over time.

Gioannini used basalt rock crystals for the new water feature. Some were cored out for water; others were left intact. "The basalt crystals have the advantage of being visually pleasing with the water on or off," she says. "The verticality of them adds nicely to the balance of the yard, and the crystals themselves were placed to create a balanced, yet striking focal point."

The clients were so taken with the crystals that a second feature of smaller proportions, without water, was added at the entrance to the courtyard.

Both features were surrounded with black, Mexican beach pebbles, which create a contrast with the rest of the rock mulch.

Gioannini placed low-voltage lighting along the paths, as well as uplights to accent the existing trees and the new basalt crystal features. "The lighting creates a very welcoming area for evening guests and makes the seating areas more inviting," she notes.

Gioannini used a mixture of colors and sizes to create a cottage garden feel. Plants were placed around existing boulders, creating a natural look and rhythm to the planting areas. Larger plants were used further from the walkway, creating different levels of color and providing balance between the large trees and the lower understory of plants. "Key to the success of this yard was the use of native plants that would withstand strong sunlight, but would not require excessive watering or maintenance," she says. In addition, the homeowners requested a small area for seasonal plantings near the door to change out at their discretion.

The existing flagstone steppers from the seating area to the west were re-layed, to create a more meandering pathway. "The space was already long and narrow; the steppers laid parallel to the perimeter wall only emphasized this," Gioannini says. "The more organic feeling of the new path created movement and provided a better flow from space to space." Flagstone steppers were also added from the existing main walkway to the new seating area under the grand Prosopis specimen. Trellises were added to the perimeter wall to help soften it and make the space more intimate. The trellis color and style echoes the look of the entry gate, providing unity. Bougainvilleas were planted at the base of the trellises to add a pop of color.