Sunny Pocket in the Pines
A single family residence in Pacific Grove nestled in a neighborhood adjacent to the Del Monte Forest this home is unique to Pacific Grove as it is in a rather warm sunny pocket which made plant selection very exciting to play with. Both the front and backyard go from full sun to deep shade within 20ft. This may be my favorite thing about landscape design for small spaces is the opportunity that contrast presents.
HABITAT TYPE
Pine forest • Urban
DESIGN CONSTRAINTS
Heavy clay soil • Coastal influence (salt, fog, temperature) • Deep shade • Deer/rabbit grazing
DESIGN FEATURES
Water feature • Pet area • Low maintenance landscape • Pergola/trellis
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FEATURES
Pollinator Garden • Organic/Permaculture practices • Native / Drought • Tolerant Plants • Permeable Pathways • Increased Biodiversity • Soil • Ecological Health • Adaptive Management
The design request was to create a lush welcoming space for people, pets, and pollinators.
The primary plantings in the backyard focused on year round successions of color and interest in the primary view from the living room of the home. In the less viewed portions of the yard low maintenance native groundcover was utilized for their spring interest and evergreen beauty.
The primary objective in the front yard was to create an attractive low maintenance space that is highly resistant to the grazing deer who peruse the neighborhood daily. The existing landscape had a cobble pathway which lended itself to a design of flowing Peruvian feather grass Stipa ichu with accents of Protea, Leucospermum and a hedgerow to the north of native shrubs.
The mixture of native shrubs created habitat and seasonal interest by using natives that bloom in different seasons.
Featured Plants
Front:
Ceanothus ‘Yankee Point’ • Verbena lilacina • Lavender • Yerba buena • Abutilon • Climbing Roses • Citrus
Back:
Peruvian Feather Grass • Pink Ice Protea • Pin Cushion Leucospermum • Deer Fern • Succulents (various species) • Ceanothus ‘Yankee Point’ • Apple Tree (existing)
