Exquisite Mediterranean home on Lake Austin. Photography by Coles Hairston

Eric Roth

Southern Style courtyard made with reclaimed brick

photo credit: TJ Sugnet, Soonyay Creative

Sean Gallagher

The hillside garden responds to movement of the wind, flow of the water and warmth of the sun with an artful integration of storm water management practices. Rhythmic landforms and a grassy swale slow stormwater flow, allowing it to percolate into the ground and divert it away from the house. The meandering path and sitting area nestle in a warm pallet of colors maximizing the use of the side property and views of the San Francisco Bay. Low maintenance and drought & deer tolerant planting provide a gracious transition between the built environment and the adjoining openlands. Michele Lee Wilson Photography

For this Boston-area former hunting lodge, featured in Outside the Not So Big House by Julie Moir Messervy and Sarah Susanka, JMMDS created a landscape design that anchors the house in the site and complements its Tuscan-inspired architectural update. An antique openwork wrought-iron gate provides access from the driveway to the courtyard and breaks up the solidity of the stone walls, crafted by an italian stonemason. The winding, informally-planted brick path leads to the back door, in contrast to the formal front entry. Photo: Grey Crawford.

This spa area is screened in on the lower terrace with custom ironwork, custom stone mantle, gas lanterns, and a very interesting fiber optic lighting system in the rock that is dificult to see in this photot. Ashley Maness