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Association of Professional Landscape Designers

Featured below are photos of gardens designed by some local APLD members. In some instances, you can see "before" photos by passing your mouse over the large picture. Check back from time to time, as the featured gardens will change every couple of months to give you new ideas and inspirations for your own garden!

The Lear Garden

Cathy Carr Petrillo
Garden Gate Landscaping, Inc.

Winner of a 2004 Award of Distinction from the Associated Landscape Contrators of America (ALCA) and an Honorable Mention from the Landscape Contractors Association, MD-DC-VA (LCA)

L: The completed area "after." Above: The project area "before"

In this project, the homeowners didn't want to replace the existing patio, but needed heavy screening in only four feet of space between the edge of the patio and the fence because a very large new house two doors down dominated the view from their breakfast and family rooms. They also specifically requested a water feature in that vista.

Since they were willing to give up some of the paved area, we installed the water feature within the footprint of the existing patio and still had room to plant Cryptomeria as a screen. In addition, the patio had been built without proper excavation; it was as much as 16” above grade on the back side, preventing water from flowing to the yard's low spot. To resolve drainage issues, we installed a catch basin and extended downspouts under the new dog run area and behind the water feature to daylight in a gravel-filled French drain.

Above: Detail of water feature

A Moorish Garden in Bethesda, MD

William Morrow
William Morrow Garden Design & Landscaping

The homeowner wanted a garden patio to match the boldness of her new home addition. We used colorful sandstone imported from Malaysia. The olive jar style, terra cotta planters filled with seasonal palms add to the exotic, Mediterranean feel. The steel floor lamps each hold several large candles and cast a wonderful pattern of light on the floor in the evening. The iron window grates were modeled after a plaster frieze common in Moroccan interiors. The above ground fish pond was designed to provide additional seating during parties. The oversized, wrought iron light fixtures complete the look and add a touch of sparkle with their heavily seeded glass panes! Welcome to the Kasbah!

Above: the completed courtyard of the Moorish Garden

Bethesda, MD Residence

Mark Voelkel, APLD
Rolling Acres Landscaping & Nursery

The owners of this residence were tired of the lack of color and interest in the front of their home. In addition, a previously installed walkway to reach the front door did not provide adequate access for guests. The new garden features a flagstone walk on concrete, a stepping stone walk to the lawn, incorporation of existing trees into the landscape, and a new palette of plant material, including masses of annuals, to provide interest throughout the year.

Left: the approach to the house after the redesign (hold your mouse over the image to see the 'before' look). Below: The new design includes boulder steps leading from the new front walk down to the lawn.

This page last updated 1/15/06