Photography by Meredith Swinehart except where noted.
In the 1960s landscape architect Lawrence Halprin wrote an ode to the northern California coastline with his master plan for a new community called Sea Ranch. He imagined Sea Ranch as a utopia: with hedges instead of fences, shared meadows instead of lawns, and gardens of no-mow grasses and native plants. Here are 7 ideas to steal.
1. Friendly Fences
Fences built alongside public walking trails and paths have pickets spaced a few inches apart to allow light and air to circulate.
Photo by Michelle Slatalla
Driveways paid with gravel or decomposed granite provide good drainage, have a soft appearance, and ease the transition between garden and wilderness.
2. Permeable Driveways
Photo courtesy of Realtor
Rather than dividing lots visually with mown lawns or perimeter plantings, Sea Ranch properties blend into each other to create unobstructed views and a sense of spaciousness.
3. Common Ground
Photo by Michelle Slatalla
Simple but brilliant; an unobtrusive cedar or redwood peg rail for beach towels, dog leashes, and sun hats will disappear visually when not in use.
4. Peg Rails
Interior courtyards block wind from harming plantings and create serene, sheltered outdoor rooms for dining or lounging.
5. Outdoor Rooms
Photo courtesy of Realtor
Native plantings are naturally deer-resistant; no need to dread the impact of local wildlife.
6. Deer Friendly
Perennial grasses are drought resistant and look just as good in planters as in the ground.