Japanese inspired + drought tolerant + shade tolerant + a working garden in the front yard. This is what my clients wanted and they are very happy with the finished garden, so it must be what they got!

Perennial gardens are undoubtedly spaces of beauty. Many also find them calming- perhaps naturalistic gardens quiet our anxieties (especially climate ones) in ways more formal gardens don’t?

There are many reasons to want a perennial garden. There are also some things to consider when designing a perennial garden, some of which may not be readily apparent or even counterintuitive.

You probably don’t care too much about what wire I use or even about the stainless steel box that powers the landscape lights… but the fixtures that actually produce the light? Those matter. Here are some of our favorite manufacturers and fixtures.

This was a very rewarding project. Our clients gave us lots of leeway and the results are beyond what they had envisioned. I love properties with mature trees- the new landscape doesn’t feel like a baby garden. See what you think!

What does a patio cost right now in 2023? Get some general guidelines here from one of Portland’s premier landscape-design firms.

Portland shares weather patterns with the Mediterranean. Which means that many plants that thrive in the Mediterranean also thrive here. They may not be native, but they are well adapted and (perhaps) future proof. But how do we use these in our drought tolerant landscape designs?

Certainly. Landscapes can definitely be a DIY project for many. So when I design for you to DIY, how does it differ from any other design?

This is one of several Michael Ellena designs we have installed. The garden is long and narrow, but the paths that wind through it give a sense of depth. Planting beds are raised so you can’t ever see all the garden at once. It is a sophisticated design that has matured very well, not in small part due to the fact that Michael does the pruning.

This garden had to be a lot of things: very low maintenance, drought tolerant, and modern. My client was going to move into their ADU and wanted the outdoor space to help compensate for how compact the inside is.

This compact garden is the primary view from the client’s home office, shop, dining room, and living room. From all angles it needed to look great, with tons of color and texture. A Japanese influence was desired, with some traditional PNW garden elements worked in as well.