Alameda formal garden- before pictures

Here is what we're working on this week. We were hired by the daughter of the homeowners who have lived in this house in Alameda since they built it in the 1950's. It has been re-landscaped periodically over the decades. Some of the original plantings remain, like a huge Southern Magnolia by the driveway, a few rhododendrons and camellias, and some citrus trees in the back garden.

The homeowners wish the new garden to be traditional, somewhat formal, but still vibrant and colorful. They planted the planter box themselves but were dissatisfied with the results, so their daughter wished to surprise them by having it professionally done. We are adding to the evergreen foundation planting, but making it interesting with colorful foliage as well as blooms.

img_0045, originally uploaded by myalicious. We will keep some of the hydrangeas in the planter box against the house, but rip out everything in the beds by the stairs for a clean slate. We are also adding a boxwood hedge with a border of impatiens at the base of the ivy-covered wall (in the far right side of the picture).