A Stream And Pond For A Modern Home's Garden

The client’s home is modern, almost minimal. The brief for the front garden was NOT minimal: build on a slope, no trees over 15’ at maturity due to the neighbor’s view, work in a Japanese garden influence, lean a little modern but also soften the home’s face, incorporate native and drought tolerant plants where possible, and let the homeowner control all the systems on his phone.

So what did we do?

The design is anchored by a dramatic water feature with a 25’ long stream and a series of falls that culminate in a 4’ drop into a pond that sits right at the driveway. It makes a statement while drowning out noise that comes from the home above.

The water feature is flanked by pines that are already shaped and pruned by Bentwood Tree Farm. Low horizontal screens and boulder groupings give the slope some structure and help to hide some walls and fences that belong to his neighbors. The irrigation controller is by Rachio and the lighting is our first FX Luminaire Luxor system.

Below you’ll find some pictures and video, along with a full plant list.

Video of the water feature and garden. This was taken just after completion. As the plants grow in the boulders will be softened and the stream will be further integrated into the garden.

Partial plant list for this project:

Western Serviceberry

Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pine

Dwarf Strawberry Bush

Wheeler's Dwarf Japanese Mock Orange

Blizzard Mock Orange

Pink Flowering Currant

Soft Caress Oregon Grape

Pacific Fire Vine Maple

Chieftain Manzanita

Subalpine Spirea

Dwarf Yedda Hawthorne

Western Sword Fern

Cardwell's Cliff Penstemon

Oregon Stonecrop