Photography courtesy of Mosaic Gardens.
Photography courtesy of Mosaic Gardens.
Buell Steelman and Rebecca Sams are alums of Gardens, the groundbreaking landscape architecture design/build firm in Austin, Texas.
Buell Steelman and Rebecca Sams are alums of Gardens, the groundbreaking landscape architecture design/build firm in Austin, Texas.
A decade ago, they traded the heat of the Southwest for the cooler climes of the Pacific Northwest, moving to Eugene, Oregon, where they began their own landscape design/build company, Mosaic Gardens.
A decade ago, they traded the heat of the Southwest for the cooler climes of the Pacific Northwest, moving to Eugene, Oregon, where they began their own landscape design/build company, Mosaic Gardens.
A Vietnamese urn filled with water flowers sits at the end of a straight pea gravel path flanked by stone They used...
A Vietnamese urn filled with water flowers sits at the end of a straight pea gravel path flanked by stone They used...
...a simple palette of materials including basalt for the retaining walls pea gravel for the paths and galvanized corrugated metal for the fence
...a simple palette of materials including basalt for the retaining walls pea gravel for the paths and galvanized corrugated metal for the fence
A galvanized steel stock tank has been recycled to become a circular pond.
A galvanized steel stock tank has been recycled to become a circular pond.
The stock tank is filled with water flowers such as lotus and water lilies in the summer months.
The stock tank is filled with water flowers such as lotus and water lilies in the summer months.
Before
Before
“When we purchased this former rental house, in South Eugene, Oregon, its neglected yard was a sloping, weed and concrete covered mess with little connection to the house,” say Steelman and Sams.
“When we purchased this former rental house, in South Eugene, Oregon, its neglected yard was a sloping, weed and concrete covered mess with little connection to the house,” say Steelman and Sams.
The plan was to create a number of distinct garden “rooms” in the small space and to connect the garden to the house to improve indoor-outdoor flow.
The plan was to create a number of distinct garden “rooms” in the small space and to connect the garden to the house to improve indoor-outdoor flow.
The entry to the home has foliage to create a backdrop to the garden and plants chosen for seasonal color and contrast.
The entry to the home has foliage to create a backdrop to the garden and plants chosen for seasonal color and contrast.
After
After
Steelman and Sams note the importance of taking the house into consideration when designing a garden.
Steelman and Sams note the importance of taking the house into consideration when designing a garden.
One third of the garden is dedicated to food production. Edibles include artichokes (R).
One third of the garden is dedicated to food production. Edibles include artichokes (R).
The galvanized stock tank provides a focal point on a circular pea gravel path terrace.
The galvanized stock tank provides a focal point on a circular pea gravel path terrace.
In the foreground is Eucomus ‘Sparkling Burgundy’. Foliage is the foundation of the garden’s color palette.
In the foreground is Eucomus ‘Sparkling Burgundy’. Foliage is the foundation of the garden’s color palette.
In a shaded bed, a Chinese dogwood with variegated leaves is a focal point.
In a shaded bed, a Chinese dogwood with variegated leaves is a focal point.
A fruit orchard with a stone sphere built by Steelman. The austerity of the orchard sits in contrast to the rest of the garden.
A fruit orchard with a stone sphere built by Steelman. The austerity of the orchard sits in contrast to the rest of the garden.
A dry-stack basalt stone wall and stone staircase create a garden bed for a sculptural tree, underplanted with black mondo grass.
A dry-stack basalt stone wall and stone staircase create a garden bed for a sculptural tree, underplanted with black mondo grass.
A collection of different sized containers is united visually because all are brown, planted with succulents including aloes and agave.
A collection of different sized containers is united visually because all are brown, planted with succulents including aloes and agave.
