
Relaxing Renovation
This renovation went from a traditional tract home front yard of turf and more turf, to a relaxing courtyard surrounded by an attractive landscape.The renovation begins with a wide walkway of warm toned stamped concrete accented by smooth banding that leads to the courtyard. A beautiful ceramic urn signals your arrival to the courtyard and the low stucco wall with precast concrete cap creates sufficient privacy and enclosure. The space is amply sized for a seating arrangement to accommodate morning coffee, an afternoon book or a visit with friends or neighbors. A focal point and additional ambiance is provided by the wall fountain against the house. Now isn’t that better than lawn!
The landscape consists of low to moderate water using plants with a variety of dark and lime green foliage. Seasonal blooms are provided by Golden Breath of Heaven and Fringe Flower in the spring and Lavender, Rosemary and Santa Barbara Daisy in the summer. The fruitless olive tree is situated perfectly to shade the courtyard in the late afternoon as it matures. Earth toned lava rock provides mulch on the ground plane and is a perfect complement to the terracotta tones in the tile roof. In addition, a dwarf citrus tree will provide fruit for years to come!
(Landscape design and installation by Jeff Cookson, Cosumnes River Landscape)

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Plant List
- Golden Breath of Heaven,
Coleonema pulchrum ‘Sunset Gold’ - Dwarf Meyer Lemon,
Citrus x meyeri - Rozanne Cranesbill Geranium,
Geranium x ‘Rozanne’ - Mexican Feather Grass,
Nasella tenuissima - Sago Palm,
Cycas revoluta - Trailing Rosemary,
Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Irene’ 'Wickwar Flame' - Star Jasmine,
Trachelospermum jasminoides - Fruitless Olive,
Olea europaea ‘’Wilsonii’ - Hidcote English Lavender,
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ - Chinese Fringe Flower,
Loropetalum chinense - Maori Queen New Zealand Flax,
Phormium ‘’Maori Queen’ - Lemon Thyme,
Thymus x citriodorus - Santa Barbara Daisy,
Erigeron karvinskianus - Japanese Sedge,
Carex hachijoensis ‘Evergold’ - Gardenia,
Gardenia jasminoides 'Powis Castle' - Electric Pink Balcony Rose,
Rosa floribunda Balconia® ‘Electric Pink’ - American Smaragd Cedar,
Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ - Tropicana Hybrid Tea Rose,
Rosa ‘Tropicana’ - Mister Lincoln Hybrid Tea Rose,
Rosa ‘Mister Lincoln’ - Perfume Delight Hybrid Tea Rose,
Rosa ‘Perfume Delight’