Woodling Landscape designs are sustainable and integrate local ecology with personal preferences

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Santa Cruz Coastal Bungalow

This lovely home, perched on the edge of the canyon, had major interior and exterior renovations.  Landscape features include a wraparound flagstone patio with full kitchen and multiple seating areas, raised vegetable beds, a custom basalt column fountain and teak Japanese soaking tub.  Planting is deer-resistant, low-water and features primarily South African and Mediterranean beauties.

Scotts Valley Terraced Garden

We designed a set of terraces for this steeply sloped back garden that is beautiful to see from inside the home. The hillside is hot and sunny with great drainage which allowed us to use a variety of Proteaceae and other pollinator plants in bold colors and dense swaths. We brought in large mature trees and ordered a custom slide based on the dimensions of the hillside for the young children.  Fruit trees line the top level of the garden and the generous patio allows for large gatherings. 

Aptos Modern

This contemporary beach house in Aptos features large-format porcelain paver walkways and patios throughout design. This active family enjoys their beach time so a shower with a foot washing station was a must.  We designed a large redwood seating bench around the hot tub for cooling down.  Permeable gravel pathways connect all garden elements including the high-powered custom fire table. White and purple flowering plants dominate the plant palette, which consists of primarily shade-lovers who enjoy the foggy zone of Aptos. When the kids outgrow the trampoline, we can add more fruit trees and perennials to that corner of the garden to blend with the existing planting plan.

Oak Woodland Habitat Restoration in Scotts Valley

One of my favorite planting projects ever, this large property was tangle of chest-high invasive weeds upon arrival.  After thorough weed remediation, we installed a tranquil mixture of California natives and other low-maintenance, drought-tolerant cousins. Designed for maximum compatibility with the beautiful native oaks, these plants will fill in to densely cover the hillside and provide year-round texture, color and interest.  In order to maximize space, we created an upper patio with firepit and seating.  The hills are retained with naturalistic dry-stack Sonoma fieldstone walls and the hot tub is tucked into a private corner for those evenings in your birthday suit.

Contemporary Drought-Tolerant in Aptos

This Aptos home is on a large lot and the owners wished to have a lush landscape and plenty of room for outdoor entertaining while minimizing water use.  The interior of the home was completely remodeled and we wanted a sleek, contemporary landscape design to match.  To this end, we used repeating swaths of very drought-tolerant, textural plants in rectilinear patterns along with large expanses of permeable gravel.  The alternative lawn is Kurapia, a low-water creeping groundcover that only needs water once a week.  We created more privacy in the back garden with Myrica californica, a rapidly growing California native.  A series of retaining walls in both the front and the back serve to level out the sloping lot and offer interesting opportunities for vertical dimension in the form of built-in planter beds and seating walls.

Contemporary Santa Cruz Beach House

Just a block from the beach on the Westside of Santa Cruz, this contemporary home had a major exterior remodel.  This active family with young kids and several pups needed to expand their living space into the outdoors.  Design features included an outdoor BBQ with pizza oven, curving full-range Bluestone patios and pathways, horizontal fencing and a storage system for surfboards.  As the fog comes in, family and friends can keep warm by gathering around the large gas firepit with built-in benches.  A few pops of turquoise, beautiful low-maintenance plants, and a warm lighting design compete the look and allow the garden to be used into the evening.

Los Gatos Poolside

This beautiful home situated at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains needed a big refresh.  We reconfigured the front hardscape and entryway, planted high-performing heat and shade-tolerant plants throughout the property, and added some focal-point water features and art pieces.

Poolside Retreat

This poolside retreat is set against a peaceful backdrop of old oaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  We refinished this tired pool and hot tub with all new surfacing, coping and concrete surround.  The old brick walls were resurfaced with a beautiful, contemporary ledgerstone veneer.  The new outdoor kitchen is strategically built into the retaining wall to maximize foreground space for the large couch and gas firetable.  Drought-tolerant plants in subdued white, grey, straw and purple complement the neutral color palette of the hardscape.  

Mid-Century Modern in the Dunes

This beautiful mid-century modern home sits literally on the beach, nestled in the dunes.  It had an impeccable interior and exterior remodel and needed vibrant landscaping to match.  It was surrounded by tons of invasive iceplant along with non-native grasses, which actually serve to destabilize the dunes.  I was really inspired to do a dune restoration and my client agreed (native dune plants are really all that would survive in this harsh environment). The plants still have lots of growing to do, but we are really pleased with this tapestry of beautiful, habitat-supporting plants and hope that it contributes to ecological connectivity along the coast.  I also added a paver patio, cedar bench seating with firepit, hot tub in the central courtyard area, and subtle FX Luminaire lighting.  

Neighborhood Gathering In Aptos

This Aptos home is in a community that does (pre-COVID) large rotating backyard parties.  To that end, this project aimed to maximize the space and create separate gathering spaces for big groups.  The outdoor kitchen includes a BBQ, pizza oven and shelf for the Big Green Egg, all under a pre-fab arbor.  We used Belgard's Mega-libre pavers for the patios, allowing for permeability and the look of natural stone.  The Trex Composite deck is large enough to accommodate two separate seated groups, while the hot tub is tucked in a private corner and surrounded by plants and boulders to create a lush hideaway.  Horizontal stainless steel and hogwire panels on the fencing and railing maintain the view of the verdant golf course adjacent to the back yard. 
PRODUCTS USED:
Paver: Belgard 'Mega -libre paver', Color 'Victorien'
Decking: Azek, Color 'Island Oak' from the Arbor Collection.
Pergola: New England Arbor. Model: Camelot 12x12 Louvered Pergola
Pizza Oven: Alfa 5 Minuti
Grill: Summerset, Model 'Sizzler Pro 32”'
Countertop: Stone Universe Inc. 72’X36”X2’ lime stone slab. Color 'Lime black'
BBQ Island Veneer: El Dorado Stone, rough cut. Color 'Vineyard Trail'. 
Lighting: FX Luminaire


Soquel Sunbelt

Tucked in a quiet neighborhood at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this home is in the sunbelt and receives fantastic light all day.  Project features included multiple dining and seating areas, built-in kitchen, and some practical items such as a new level spot for additional parking.  We designed an in-ground water feature to create a peaceful ambiance and used a variety of brightly colored flowering perennials and shrubs for beauty and habitat value.

Victorian Boho Cottage Garden

This 1906 Victorian downtown San Jose has been lovingly restored and needed a beautiful garden to match.  This project represented a perfect match of designer/ client collaboration and creative exchange.  My client desired functional, distinct garden rooms with significant character and boho artistic aesthetic.  Our collaboration was fun and iterative, and the end result was spectacular.  We went with a bright color palette in purples, pinks and whites to complement the deep blue-violet body of the home.  All plants are long-blooming, super drought-tolerant and big pollinator magnets.  We splurged on some features like the gas fire pit, while strategically saving money on other items.  The outdoor bathtub (used *every* day) is plumbed for hot baths under the stars and strategically positioned for privacy.  The ancient fecund grandmother of all grapefruit trees generously provides freshly squeezed juice as a mixer while guests relax in the afternoon heat of the Silicon Valley.

Country Entertaining At Its Finest

Clients love to entertain!  And why wouldn't they, when they have a space like this?  When I arrived, this huge space was nothing but bare soil.  What a transformation! Project goals primarily focused on the creation of a beautiful space to enjoy with multiple outdoor rooms, space to grow food and space to play outside with guests.  We created a regulation-size bocce ball court, large fountain and pond, and used an incredible and diverse selection of drought-tolerant plants including California native selections as well as plants from South Africa, Australia and beyond.  Textures and colors form a buzzing, living tapestry which is framed by magnificent views of the fields and distant mountains.  All garden elements are connected by winding decomposed granite pathways so the frequent guests, children and grandchildren can roam freely.  Raised veggie beds provide a bountiful harvest of veggies and tomatoes.  The sound of flowing water and the tranquil garden make it impossible to go inside; this is outdoor living at its finest!    

Asian-inspired Shade Garden

This thoughtful husband gave his wife an Asian-inspired shade garden with a cedar soaking tub for her 50th birthday - what a guy!  They also wanted to encourage their teenagers and friends to congregate at home by including a fire pit and hang-out area outside. The hot tub and deck had to be designed around large existing conifers.  The addition of the overhead structure provides visual interest as well as protecting the hot tub from sap and falling debris.  This project illustrates skilled woodworking and a minimalist, textural plant palette.  We created two separate patios - one for outdoor dining and one with a gas fire table. Lighting from FX Luminaire highlights the Japanese Maple and illuminates the stamped concrete pathways, creating a magical nighttime effect.  

Coastal Mediterranean Deer-Resistant Garden

This stunning home in the gated Aptos community of the Seascape Uplands needed landscaping to match its style and beauty.  The main objective in plant selection was deer-resistance as the Aptos hills are known for their voracious herds of deer.  Plant selection also needed to consider the windy and foggy conditions on this ridge right above the ocean.  The project accomplished these goals and more, offering stunning year-round color, drought-resistance and very little maintenance. 

Beachfront Bliss

This enviable property sits perched on the bluff directly across from the ocean in the La Selva Beach neighborhood of Aptos.  Project goals included overall beautification via plants with year-round color and showy blooms, more privacy on the patio and deck, and a way to deter frequent dog-walkers from cutting through the garden.  We accomplished this last goal by building up soil mounds behind retaining walls and using taller plants at the apex.  Privacy for the deck was achieved by the addition of sleek stucco walls.  Project features a large swath of a walkable, drought-tolerant grass alternative.  Special care was devoted to selecting plants that can withstand the wind, fog and salt-spray that occur near the ocean.  South African and Australian plants figure prominently into the plant palette and create a vibrant complimentary color scheme against the ocean backdrop.  Who wouldn't want to spend time in this ocean-view garden?

Peaceful Pleasure Point

This cute beach house in the iconic Pleasure Point neighborhood needed an overhaul after years of salt spray and neglect.  My client wanted low-maintenance plants, year-round color and succulents. He also wanted a peaceful, zen-like environment.  We chose neutral pavers in greys and tans in a simple pattern for the driveway and flagstone for the patio that matched the new colors of the home.  The plant palette is simple yet striking and about as low-maintenance as you can get.  A beautiful waterfall cascades over stone and percolates gradually into the drycreek.  A perfect spot for unwinding with a glass of wine after a long day.

1930's Historic Home

Large, historic home from the 1930's overlooking downtown Santa Cruz.  My clients are self-described "plantaholics" and tend to buy many plants, only to have them die.  They have an extensive gardening area and low water budget.  Our main goal was to make the overall design cohesive between various areas of the garden while utilizing interesting and unusual plant selections - a very fun project for me!  We removed over 3,000 square feet of traditional grass and replaced it with several lawn alternatives.  The first is a walkable groundcover that uses a fraction of the water of regular grass (and can be seen here in several seasons, one of which has tiny flowers); The second is a California native grass that grows long (or can be kept short) and can tolerate some shade.  Both of these are excellent choices for clients with children or dogs who want a green patch without using excessive water.  My clients love plants from Australia and South Africa so plants from the Proteacea and other Southern Hemisphere beauties are used predominantly throughout the project.  Clean, flowing water is so important for wildlife and the beautiful stone fountain is a constant gathering spot for birds and other animals.  My clients are beyond thrilled with their gorgeous, nature-filled garden and ever-expanding plant knowledge.

A Working Winery in Soquel

Surrounded by redwood trees and the flowing sound of Soquel Creek, this charming multi-generational family winery is concurrently a tasting room, working winery and wedding venue.  Clients wanted to update the landscaping, lighting and overall look of the property to reflect a rustic yet elegant European aesthetic that matches their fine wine.  As such, striking and colorful plants were chosen in deep reds and pinks to match the brick and tile as well as the wine itself.  High-quality FX Luminaire lighting was added throughout parking lot and trees were illuminated with uplights for a beautiful nighttime effect. The vintage cottage which was once "Grandma's House" is still affectionately referred to as such and now hosts bridal parties! The courtyard outside Grandma's House was updated with large pots, cascading roses and olive trees.  The wedding reservations are coming in and tasting room guests are sipping Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir on the patio next to the creek.

A Rustic Winery in Soquel

Whale Watching From The Deck

This stunning home is located just above the beach in the desirable Rio Del Mar neighborhood in Aptos.  My client poured her soul into the remodel which took the home down to studs.  She has impeccable, contemporary taste and the home is a piece of art.  We needed exquisite landscaping to tie the outside to the inside.  Deeply contrasting and textural foliage-based design, copper gutters, and gorgeous light sconces now set off this contemporary gem.  For the steep back hillside, we opted to do a hillside restoration and chose plants that existed in coastal terrace ecosystem prior to development.  We removed tons of invasive iceplant and the whole hillside now buzzing with hummingbirds and pollinators, in addition to framing the ocean view with an undulating tapestry of plants. You can actually see spouting whales from the deck!  

Community Gathering Multi-Family Garden

The owners of this multi-family housing project in Aptos felt strongly about creating both beautiful views and privacy for each home. We also really wanted to encourage people to spend time outside through the creation of shared community space.  When I arrived, there was over 8,000 square feet of dead brown grass carpeting the complex.  Now, a long, sinuous dry-creek runs the length of the property.  The drycreek is surrounded by tough plants which require very minimal water and maintenance.  We used enormous trees for privacy in key locations, along with a central community gathering area complete with a commercial grade built-in BBQ and bench seating.  A large, strategically placed arbor provides shade for the dining area at the hottest time of the afternoon. New lighting illuminates pathways and trees and residents can enjoy the space at any time of day.

Drawings

Scaled, colored drawings make it easy for clients to visualize spaces and for contractors to install projects.  


Westside Beach Cottage

The beautiful Westside of Santa Cruz is known for surfing, beaches and homes with small lots. Our main project goal was to maximize outdoor space and create additional rooms that would enlarge the overall living space in this cottage just steps from the beach.  Large family gatherings, lots of grandkids and a few dogs inspired a walkable groundcover "lawn".  We chose a light colored flagstone for the patio to contrast with the blue home.  A long wall serves the dual purpose of additional seating and containing tall, thin plants that create privacy and a sense of enclosure.  Plantings provide year-round color in primarily blues and yellows, and require very little water.  With our perfect climate, nobody wants to stay indoors, and now this family is utilizing their space to the fullest extent!

Aptos Hills Deer-Resistant and Drought-Tolerant

This active family needed to overhaul this large property but didn't know where to start.  "It's like three acres of boring dirt and weeds", said my client.  The steeply sloped property did indeed present unique challenges with ever-present voracious deer, the need for erosion control and bank stabilization, large areas that required planting while still considering water conservation, and the need for beautification and modernization to tie into the aesthetic of the newly renovated home.  Concurrently, safety and access to all parts of the property were a consideration.  Landscaping goals were accomplished through careful plant selection and judicious use of retaining walls in various styles throughout the property.  Generous railroad tie steps were used on sloping side yards.  The landscaped portions converge gracefully with the existing oak woodland.  Children can play and hide in many fun spots, while my client's elderly grandmother can safely walk around.

Soquel Elementary Turf Removal Project

This project was done as part of a public workshop on sheet mulching as a turf-removal technique.  Nine-thousand square feet of thirsty, weed-infested dead grass previously carpeted the front of this historic building which has occupied this site since the 1890s.  New design included pathways meandering between the colorful, drought-tolerant plant selections, and a special "parent waiting area" with large boulders for seating.  Plants were chosen specifically to encourage hummingbirds and wildlife and to serve as a demonstration garden to give others ideas for their gardens.  

Backyard Kid and Pet-Friendly

Is it possible to have a space for entertaining, relaxing, hot-tubbing and growing food?  A space where dogs can play and kids can have water balloon fights, all within a low-maintenance and low-water framework on an averaged-sized Soquel lot?  This garden embodies all of the above with areas for growing veggies and fruit, a trampoline for kids and a low-water grass alternative that never needs mowing. The variety of bright flowers provide year-round color and lots of food for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.  On the southwest side of the home, a large arbor and vine create an inviting shady spot for outdoor dining. Another arbor covers the hot tub for added privacy. In the front of the home, tall plants provide a nook for the stamped concrete patio that is not visible from the street. 

Kid and Pet-Friendly in Soquel

Front Garden Oasis

This client's home is at the end of a cul-de-sac where many kids and animals play in the street.  As home-brewers and generally fun people, the clients wanted a place to sit and enjoy a beer while keeping an eye on the kids.  They also wanted lots of color and life in the garden, with a sleek, minimalist style.  We accomplished all of this and more with a flagstone patio and curving concrete bench along the perimeter.  We added a modern fence to frame the garden and a selection of colorful, low-water plants.  Subtle lighting illuminates steps, pathways and select trees.  A small patch of "lawn" (walkable groundcover) adds a bright spot of green. Both downspouts from large roof are directed into a curving stone drycreek for groundwater recharge.  Sonoma Fieldstone boulders that match the drycreek are placed throughout the garden. This house is the life of the neighborhood and frequent gathering spot for kids and adults alike!

South County Beauty

Similar to many of my projects, the main criteria for this Royal Oaks project included low-water and low-maintenance plant selections.  This farming family is busy and wanted a beautiful garden to match their beautiful home.  The result was a particularly stunning complementary color scheme with multiple shades of purple and lilac, along with orange, rust and yellow.  Low-growing, mounding ground covers prevent weeds from recurring and are interspersed with fountain-like grasses, architectural cordylines, leucadendrons, and boulders.  The back garden frames a view of the Watsonville farmlands and distant Santa Cruz Mountains.  Couldn't be prettier! 

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