Palo Alto Craftsman Garden

The owners of this gray Craftsman were done watering a front lawn.

Palo Alto Craftsman from the sidewalk: the stone steps and walk, natives, grasses and a boulder where the lawn was — From the sidewalk: stone steps and walk, natives and a boulder where the lawn was.

The project

Lawn out, natives in, on the water district's rebate.

The water district was running a lawn-conversion rebate, and that is what brought the owners to me. The front yard was lawn, thirsty and doing nothing else; it came out, and redbud, clarkia and native grasses went in under Japanese maples and white-barked birches.

I designed this garden and built it through Seven Scapes, the design-build firm I founded and ran. I simulated it over photographs before a shovel touched ground, directed my own masons on the stone entry walk and steps, the slate-and-copper fountain, and the hot-tub screen, then stayed on to tend it as it grew in.

Before — the original entry walk and steps prior to construction — Before — the old entry steps

After — the new stone entry walk and steps, built by my own crew — After — the same steps in stone, built by my own masons

Palo Alto Craftsman — the rebuilt entry walk approaching the gray Craftsman house through the native garden — The rebuilt entry walk approaches the house through the native garden.

Palo Alto Craftsman — the back garden path toward the shed in October, Mexican sage in purple bloom on both sides, young birches and a boulder — The back garden two seasons in: the stone path to the shed, Mexican sage on both sides.

Palo Alto Craftsman — the back garden looking toward the deck, Mexican sage in bloom under the young birches — Looking back toward the deck: sage under the birches.

Palo Alto Craftsman — the arched trellis screen around the hot tub, bougainvillea climbing it in red bloom — The hot tub screen, with bougainvillea taking it over.

Project credits

Design & buildSharon DeBell

Garden careSharon DeBell

PhotographySharon DeBell

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