A Show of Northwest Natives

The strong lines of this contemporary home set off the textures and colors of Pacific Northwest native foliage. Concrete walls and two water retention gardens enclose the plants and provide horizontal contrast to the tall structure, giving the entire space a finished look. Vertical trees along the front add to the geometry of this site. Bright green ginkgo trees blend with the subtle green of the evergreen cypress trees. South of those, look for a brilliant coral bark maple. A variety of grasses, including Japanese forest grass and black mondo grass flourish under the trees. 

Heavenly bamboo, an upright evergreen shrub, hellebores, and rosemary, along with gray Mediterranean spurge repeat along the sidewalk outside the retaining wall. A length of artificial grass, river rocks and feather reed grass ‘Karl Foerster’ lines the curb along Hanford Street. Native shrubs along this side include evergreen salal, red twig dogwood and deciduous viburnum.

There are two play yards, one for children and one for dogs. The dog yard is enhanced by the evergreen perennial vine, star jasmine, and a honeysuckle. The children’s play yard is surrounded by two water retention ponds and planting beds filled with northwest natives. Shrubs abound in this garden, including Mexican orange (Choisya ternata), Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica), native snowberries, hydrangeas, and Chinese mahonias, with their fern-like leaves. Finally, be sure to notice the olive trees in pots gracing the deck above.