Remove the Lawn Before and After

Location: Camas, Washington

Landscape Design: Alana Chau for Landscape Design in a Day

Install: Donna Burdick from D&J Landscape Contractors

The goal for this front yard was to remove the thirsty brown lawn and create an interesting, drought-tolerant garden with 4 seasons of interest. These photos were taken about one year apart.

After: A mix of foliage color and texture create a drought-tolerant front yard that also attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The boulders create a small hidden seating area, perfect for coffee on a sunny morning. Plants in this photo include: Kniphofia, Carex, and Creeping Thyme in the foreground; Guara in the background.

After- Carex testacea and Kniphofia have a similar form which highlights the contrast in foliage color.

Aster chilensis ‘Purple Haze’, Sedum reflexum 'Blue Spruce, Carex testacea

Year 2: Plants are really filling in and highlighting the boulders and crushed rock front patio. We wanted to try to keep the original dogwood trees (see before photos) but they just don’t thrive in a full sun, drought-tolerant garden in our climate. The contractor, Donna Burdick, and I chose Arbutus ‘Marina near the entry and Acer griseum, Paperbark Maple, to anchor the far corner.