Contemporary Japanese-Style Garden

Front lawn was removed in favor of soft ground covers.

Cloud-pruned evergreen shrubs accent the front door.

Changes in foliage color and texture bring a subtle richness to the garden.

Patio areas disintegrate into undulating lawn and garden beds.

Planting beds are accented by unique specimen trees and shrubs.

Stepping stone pathways cut through the lush gardens, accented by cloud-pruned evergreens.

The designers and clients visited nurseries in search of distinctive plant specimens, including cloud-pruned hollies, craggy pines, Japanese maples of varied color and habit, and a particularly notable Japanese snowbell tree.

A stone water feature is nestled in the garden, awaiting discovery by those strolling the stepping stone paths.

JMMDS laid drifts of sedges, hellebores, European gingers, ferns, and Solomon’s Seal. Evergreen azaleas, juniper, rhododendrons, and hebe were clustered around the lawn.

JMMDS was on site during the installation to craft the mounds and place the plants and stones. Julie Moir Messervy set out the ancient pieces of gneiss—3 billions years old—from Scotland’s Isle of Lewis.

Integration between indoor and outdoor spaces was prioritized during the design process.

The garden is beautifully framed through the large entry and kitchen windows, marrying inside to outside in perfect harmony.

Mondo grass, sedums, and mosses grace the stepping stones and provide a soft carpet beneath the stone lantern.