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Changing Landscapes Photo by Peter Bastianelli-Kerze
With new construction, an up-front collaboration between architect and landscape architect is key to seamlessly threading the architecture and site together.
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 Native Plants Deciduous Trees Coniferous Trees Small Trees & Shrubs Prairie Flowers Make Your Sidewalk Sing Select plants that are hardy in frost zones three or four. Create an opening in your boulevard that allows for foot traffic and opening car doors. For a constantly changing boulevard, plant a variety of annuals, perennials, native plants, and shrubbery in varying colors, heights, and textures.
 Perennial gardens are a key component of a pleasing landscape. Some homeowners love lively cutting gardens filled with a variety of colors and textures. Others opt for a monochromatic scheme of all blues, all pinks, or all greens. A lovely all-white garden also becomes a moon garden that shimmers at night. Before you start, consider the amount of time you are willing to dedicate to maintaining your garden—many are more high maintenance than you think. The beautiful selection of plants and a design that respects and reflects the palette and style of the home below caught our attention. For this authentic English–style garden, Andrew Kruger of Gray Gardens chose low-maintenance, long-blooming hydrangea and perennials with English flare that provide four seasons of color, including the silvery grays of the lady’s mantel, the purpley reds of the salvia, and the creamy white of the snowball hydrangeas. The yellow liqularia serves as an accent. To extend the lines of the house created by the front columns, tall arborvitaes were planted. They also create a sense of privacy for the backyard terrace, add winter interest, and serve as a backdrop for the composition of perennials.
Simplicity in Stone
 Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes, so it’s no surprise that many of us want to live near water. The addition of ponds, waterfalls, and fountains has been one of the fast-growing elements in area landscapes.
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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. 
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. 
Outdoor Rooms
Once considered a California or desert trend, outdoor rooms are one of the top requests homeowners are making of landscapers today. Minnesotans only use these spaces a portion of the year, but once we reconnect with our landscapes we want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Features include outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, bars, and heaters; structures, trees, and hedges to create privacy; and, since this is Minnesota, screened areas to keep the mosquitoes at bay. 
When establishing your landscape, carve out small areas that will allow you to enjoy your garden spaces from within its natural surroundings. Perfect for smaller, urban backyards—as well as a component of a larger landscape. 
To transform a rather plain front yard overwhelmed by a silver maple tree into a beautiful garden that accentuated the charming qualities of her Bryn Mawr home, Judy Remington, owner of Temenos Garden Services, created an American cottage–style garden. The white picket fence, a quintessential cottage feature, defines the border and also serves as a backdrop for the front yard’s sunny corner garden filled with traditional cottage garden plants, including climbing roses, peonies, and hydrangea. Several native perennials and grasses were employed to complete the look. 
If creating entire outdoor rooms seems like too huge an undertaking, an outdoor fire pit or fireplace is an easy way to extend your usable living space outdoors while adding ambiance and creating a gathering spot. Designs of outdoor fire pits range from wok-shaped styles made of copper or other metals to ornate potbelly stove chimneys and natural stone surrounds. 
If you have a large piece of property, landscaping can be expensive. But you needn’t cover your entire property to create the desired effect. By breaking up your yard with varying plantings and different destination areas, you’ll add interest and depth. 
A focal point leads the eye, adds interest and texture, and, most importantly, brings a bit of your personal touch to your landscape or garden. 
The first impression your home creates does more than make your neighbors green with envy—it also will instantly increase its value. Adding curb appeal is also contagious—soon your neighbors will be doing the same, making a more welcoming neighborhood and streetscape. The true beauty is in linking your home to your property through expertly placed shrubbery and the creative use of stone, colorful flora, and mixed textures and foliage, thus creating a complete package. 
Natural stone is a vital component in a well-designed landscape. Besides visual interest, well-positioned stone adds some structure and helps define spaces, places, and paths. Take into consideration the surrounding environment and the architecture of your home when choosing a type of stone.
© 2011 MSP Communications, Inc. All rights reserved