Changing Landscapes

There’s no ignoring that our homes are a grounding force in our lives. Today’s definition of home is not confined by the footprint of its foundation or bound by four walls. Balconies, patios, tiny plots of land, and expansive lots are an extension of home as never before. Beyond a simple flower garden or a few house-framing shrubs, landscapes today are including manmade water falls, ivy-covered pergolas, natural stone walkways, and complete entertaining spaces. Not just for the elite, architecture and structure has spilled into our yards. Our personal tastes and lifestyles are now on display for our neighbors to see.  From lakeside homes to city dwellings to suburban stunners, here’s a look at some of the best Twin Cities landscapes—yep, right here in our own backyard—to inspire you.

Urban Sanctuary
We’ve featured this beautiful oasis in the past, but we can’t get enough of Sotera Tschetter’s masterpiece. This out-of-the-ordinary environment in Minneapolis’s Bryn Mawr neighborhood reminds us that man does not live by grass alone. Tschetter, co-owner of Bloomsbury Market and head of product development for Smith & Hawken, landscaped her 4,000-square-foot backyard in the fashion of a European garden. This modern day Renaissance woman was inspired by the century-old gardens of England, France, and the Netherlands, as well as Marie Antoinette’s Millhouse and the Bloomsbury group of writers. Tschetter, who did most of the work herself (but also tapped local craftspeople), used wrought iron planters, a random collection of aged brick and stone, and salvaged materials for a sanctuary reminiscent of a romantic secret garden. There’s just the right balance of structure, hardscape, and plant material to create a space that’s equally inviting for strolling, reflecting, or digging in the dirt. See slideshow for more photographs.

Modern Aesthetic
When placing a modern-looking structure against a backdrop nearly untouched by nature, it is important to create a parallel between the two spaces. These landscapes, like the architecture that sits on them, are timeless with the use of native plants, but progressive in execution. See slideshow for more photographs.

Native Plants In an attempt to restore many of the Midwestern tall grasses and native plants that have been lost to development, landscapers are incorporating native prairie and woodland plants in increasing volume into our yards and gardens. Here’s a sampling: Deciduous Trees White Ash, Large-toothed Aspen, River Birch, Bitternut Hickory Coniferous Trees White Spruce, Red and White Cedar, Red and Jack Pine Small Trees & Shrubs Blue Beech, Chokecherry, Hawthorn Prairie Flowers Purple Cornflower, Brown-eyed Susan, Meadow Blazing Star, Prairie Grasses, Big and Little Bluestem, Sideoats Grama, Indian Grass Source: The Twin Cities Green Guide