The Painterly Approach

This hillside garden responds to the movement of the wind, flow of the water and warmth of the sun.

Undulating landforms and a grassy swale integrate storm water management in an artful way as they divert surface water away from the house. Following this sinuous swale, the cascading stairway creates a helix-like pattern and links the top of the property to the pool area below.

Along this path we nestled a cozy sitting area, perfect for relaxing with a glass of wine and taking in the panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. The warm-colored planting palette was a conscious choice to counter the cool breezes and saturate this hillside canvas with painterly sweeps of fiery color. Drought tolerant, low-maintenance, Mediterranean plants attract hummingbirds and bees, providing nectar and habitat.