13 Mother Nature-Approved Landscape Architecture Designs

Mature oak trees and lush plantings are the backdrop to spaces geared for multigenerational use on the grounds of this Tudor-style home in San Anselmo, California. Hand-blown café lights allow for alfresco entertaining after the sun goes down.

For this Annapolis, Maryland, property, two objectives were top of mind for the design team: Restore the natural ecosystem and create an alfresco oasis for the owners. The result? The implementation of rain gardens, bioswales and a planting buffer support environmental goals, while a pool, fire pit and gardens create an ideal outdoor haven.

Live oaks and other plantings around this Albany, Georgia homestead were carefully preserved. Set on nearly 3,000 acres, the property includes plenty of outdoor space for dining, entertaining and, of course, farming.

What’s more desert than cacti and agave? Designers drew inspiration from the desert grandeur of Scottsdale and added water elements, including a pool with a raised spa. A modern bocce ball court ups the fun, and a cantilevered metal fire pit rounds out the grounds.

The formerly overgrown gardens of this 1930s Tudor cottage in Denver were revitalized with a romantic tapestry of native and adapted perennials as well as a more orderly boxwood maze. A delightful new sun terrace overlooks the pool.

This Austin landscape embraces minimalism to accentuate both home and nature. Designers employed native grasses to add textural softness and live oaks to increase vertical interest. Boxwoods complete the landscape, lending a more structural appeal.

The romanticism of Savannah’s oak-strewn landscapes intertwines with the formality of French gardens in this Coral Gables, Florida, estate. Green pavilions flanking the pool contain seating and dining areas. Take a moment of solace among the 18th-century French limestone fountains and stone benches.

Conceived as a series of outdoor areas, a simple material palette unifies the grounds of this Calistoga, California retreat. From the silver foliage of the dining court’s olive trees to the vibrant blooms alongside the pool, designers embraced the allure of Napa Valley.

This contemporary abode seamlessly blends form, function and environmental consciousness in its landscape design. Perched on a slender peninsula in Water Mill, New York, native flora was planted to help rejuvenate the wetland area abutting the bay.

Brightly hued plants, including amethyst-colored astilbe, border the sweeping lawn of this Seattle residence situated along Lake Washington. Multiple terraces, including an alfresco dining area, fire pit and kitchen, offer the best of outdoor living.

To complement this classic Winnetka, Illinois, abode, the team created a series of outdoor “rooms”. Including a kitchen, dining area and intimate conversation zone surrounding the fire pit, these “rooms” provide an added level of function to the stunning forms. Lounge next to the pool that’s cleverly hidden behind a stone wall and allée of linden trees.

A seating area nestled under a live oak and lit by a variety of lanterns serves as a quiet counterpart to the geometric sculpture set within a bed of ardisia in the front yard of this Dallas dwelling.

This Hollywood, California, home’s backyard, designed in collaboration with Wall for Apricots, ensures privacy while invoking a sense of artistry. Architectural elements like the pool, second-floor pergola and raised shed are beautifully accented by a mix of succulents and native plants.