By Sharon Cohoon, Sunset senior garden writer
This sweet little front yard in the North Park area of San Diego belonging to Dee Randolph and David McQuaide made me brake and back up for a second look. I loved, of course, that the garden designer--who I later learned was Kendra Berger with the firm Revive Your Landscape--used an interesting assortment of drought-tolerant plants instead of a lawn.
But what really intrigued me was the way Berger dealt with the retaining wall. It sets the garden up on a pedestal a few feet above the level of the sidewalk, as is typical of gardens when this home was built. But the way the flagstone is stacked--especially those staggered edges--makes the wall almost feel like an outcropping. Especially with the way the plants below it seem to spill rebelliously out onto the sidewalk. This touch of casualness makes the garden feel contemporary as well traditional--an intriguing hybrid.
Now take a look at the same house before the garden renovation.
Both photos courtesy of Lori Brookes
The garden wouldn't have the same effect without the home's new more neutral colors, would it? The turquoise paint trim and bright red roof tile might be authentic for the period, but, let's face it, they are not blenders. By convincing her client to change them, Berger was able to make the house and garden look seamlessly connected. "Still respectful of the home's style but more Mediterranean in spirit," she says.
To see another of Berger's projects, click here.
North Park, by the way, is a happening area. Fun shops, galleries, and lots of locavore-oriented restaurants. Three to check out on your next visit to San Diego -- Sea Rocket Bistro, The Linkery, Ritual Tavern, and the Vagabond.
