House #12   This serene Venice garden was designed by Ground Effects Design Group. Ann Meshekoff is the principal designer of this landscape and the middle deck container garden was designed by her associate Corina Peters.  This garden is an example of what happens when a homeowner has an ongoing commitment to the creation of a living space that is as dynamic and exciting as it is serene and comfortable.  It is a reflection of his eclectic tastes and his unerring instinct for balance.  The plantings and constructed elements were designed to maximize the small spaces and allow the eye to travel naturally through it or to pause and dwell and contemplate. The selection of a combination of succulents and grasses for the parkway that segues into a more lush eastern/tropics sense in the interior spaces, is a reflection of the client’s multifaceted persona.  The desire was to maximize the use of space through the conscious avoidance of excessive hardscape (the use of large pebbles in the entry and the interrupted and planted paving in the parking areas) and allowing spaces and structures to serve multiple uses (the “floating” decks double as informal seating.) The overarching goal from the outset was to create a space that, although in an urban setting, feels both intimate and personal.  The garden was installed by Ground Effects Design Group during the summer of 2002 and it continues to be a privilege and ongoing joy to maintain it.

House #13   This tranquil small garden was designed by Jill Oliver, Project Designer for Ground Effects Design Group. The project is an example of a garden in its infancy; it was installed only a month ago. The clients, a floral designer and an English university professor, desired a peaceful space to retreat to and use as an extension of their living space outwards. The small space was maximized by the creation of different zones, transitioning from a lush tropical bed at the more enclosed, private, western end of the garden, through a woodland  transition zone, to a welcoming English cottage garden at the eastern end and entry gate. The use of gravel and mortarless pavers with ground covers growing between them further contributes to the softness and sense of meandering natural space. The parkway is its own distinct zone, featuring meadow grasses and plantings designed specifically to attract and support the life cycle of butterflies, a special interest of the clients. The bed rises up in a gentle, dune-like berm from the gravel “beach” at street side, to both create a distinctive visual destination for the public eye and protect the dense plantings from the feet of weekend beachgoers.