This couple had never had a full yard before they had this home custom built in the St. Andrews Heights area near the University and Foothills hospital. They had always lived in condos or overseas where others looked after the yard. Laureen designed their front and back yards and has also worked on re-designs over the years as their objectives have changed. Only the front yard is shown here.

The Objectives:

The wife wanted to have an environmentally-friendly yard that looked like all the regions of Alberta. The husband wanted the yard to be attractive and low-maintenance. They both wanted a yard that would complement their stunning house. It was important too that the cats be able to see out to the yard and to the street from the windows.

In the last couple of years, the couple have become much more aware of the importance of pollinators so some of the redesigns have been to incorporate native plants that pollinators love.

The Solutions:

Laureen designed rock rivers on both sides of the yard that would distribute rainwater throughout the yard. The rock rivers both have s-curves, and were built to be level in each area so that rainwater would soak in, with flagstone waterfalls connecting the levels. The river rock was brought from another client’s yard who no longer wanted it.

Native bushes such as Red Osier Dogwood, Yellow Twig Willow, Russet Buffaloberry, Dwarf Birch, and Powderface Willow add unique colour and texture to the yard year-round. Evergreen shrubs such as Taunton’s Yew, Globe Blue Spruce, Dwarf Mugo Pine, Bird’s Nest Spruce and low junipers also provide colour and texture.

This yard posed unique challenges in that the sunlight is different around the yard – some sections are in full shade, some are in full sun, and some are in part shade. Low-maintenance perennial flowers were carefully chosen that would thrive in each area and near the house, plants were chosen that were not too tall as to block the view for the cats.

To keep the maintenance down, groundcover plants were used that need almost no tending. These groundcovers all have flowers that bloom at different times – the yard is always buzzing with pollinators enjoying the flower nectar.

Near the front door, we planted a Dropmore Honeysuckle vine that blooms with beautiful orange trumpet flowers and grew to the top of the tall wall there. The clients had a custom iron trellis built for the vine.

In 2023, part of the east side rock river was replaced with native plants that will bloom at different times to bump up the native pollinator support of this yard.

We originally built a raised vegetable garden bed with a rainwater storage system and 3 bin compost system in the back yard. After trying that for a few years, the couple realized that they are so often travelling, especially after retirement, that they could not properly garden vegetables. So the bed was replaced with a raised flower bed and we re-used the rainwater system in another yard.

This yard provides much delight for the many passers by on their way to work at the hospital or strolling around the neighbourhood. It has been a source of beauty and an engaging ongoing project and learning opportunity for the owners.

Testimonial

“We have worked with Laureen for several years, from the very beginning of planting on our property to recent changes in design and focus. Laureen and her crew have always been conscientious, accommodating …not easy things to accomplish in the landscaping field. I would recommend Laureen to anyone considering a new garden or revitalizing an old one. She has good design ideas for space and takes care to mingle plants in the way that is most attractive and suitable for the plant and the space.”

– Jan and Jacques