A dry stream bed becomes the focus for this small suburban backyard, creating visual depth and enhancing views from the house.

The client wanted to make the most of a natural swale that ran across the back of the property, 25 feet from the house. We were asked to design a dry stream bed that would fill with the biggest storms. The dry stream bed was designed to add visual interest from the house and create a sense of depth for this narrow lot. Strategic plant placement helped to break up the space and control the views, so that the garden is not viewed all at once. This delightful garden is filled with color in the summer and has many evergreens for year-round interest.