APLD ~ APLD Members ~ Member of the Month

APLD Members ~ Member of the Month

Linda Engstrom, APLD

I was asked to redesign and revitalize this garden by clients who were planning to retire and move to Arizona in three years time. They wanted to create more curb appeal, as well as much needed privacy from a busy street. This garden was later featured in the March 2003 issue of Smart Money Magazine in an article entitled ‘Fertile Ground’, which describes how good landscaping can increase the value of your home. (The clients sold their home soon after the landscaping was completed!) Their ranch house had a front garden and entry area that begged for re-definition. The large shrubs lining the driveway were overgrown, and the sidewalk, concrete porch and brick edging were crumbling. The area consisted of the typical central sidewalk leading directly from the street to the front steps, with grass on either side. We removed many of the existing shrubs and all of the turf grass, and opened up a beautiful large Rhododendron by the front entry with judicious pruning so that it no longer darkened the entry, but became the focal point.

A new walkway, entry arbor, and wood screens were built. The walkway, done in large staggered, square pavers, comes off the wide driveway… it’s entry point marked by a large timbered arbor. It is flanked by plantings of ornamental grasses, evergreen shrubs, and seasonally interesting groundcovers. The expanded pathway leads to the new porch, which was resurfaced with the same pavers and edged with a low basalt stone wall.

Privacy was achieved by installing a series of wood screens at an angle along the property line edging the street. Japanese Snowbell trees were planted in the openings between the screens, with Choisya ternata, Pieris japonica, Nandina, hardy geranium and Liriope adding texture and seasonal color. A smaller basalt stone pathway was added, leading from the main path to a small side patio and a gate to the mailbox on the street.

The shallow back garden, accessed through a new gate matching the front screens in detail, revolves around an L-shaped deck and features a dry 'streambed', gently curving stonewall, and a circular gravel garden in the far corner. Two large fir trees dominate the area and provide a high overhead canopy. A natural woodland feeling was created by using native groundcovers, clumps of iris and hosta, and numerous feeders to attract the birds. A timber arbor, similar in style to the entry arbor used in the front garden, was installed on one side of the deck to frame the scene. Basalt boulders were used as steps leading down from the deck. Off the bedroom side of the deck, tucked into the far corner of the property, a simple gravel circle partly enclosed by a curved stonewall, was added as a meditation space. A small wooden bench is also located here. Mounded forms of Japanese maple, Japanese Forest Grass, Hellebores and Sweet Woodruff complete the picture.

The new owners contacted me shortly after moving in to say how much they liked the landscaping. They want to add more native groundcovers and we plan for a few new built-ins on the deck to further expand their living space.

Linda Engstrom, APLD, was born near N.Y.C. and graduated with a degree in Housing and Design from Cornell University . Her parents were art teachers in the city, and she grew up with a great appreciation for artistic expression. She moved to Oregon in 1973 with her family and helped establish Cloudrest Vineyards on 12 acres of hillside South of Hillsboro. Once in Oregon , she pursued a degree in Landscape Design and, in 1987, studied under the English Landscape Designer, John Brookes. She has been on the faculty of the Landscape Technology Program at Portland Community College since 1989. She also maintains her own business, Garden Aesthetics, (www.gardenaesthetics.com ) and in 2000 started a mentoring program with former students. All of her clients come from the website or referral.

Linda has traveled extensively and studied the gardens in England , France , Germany, Italy , Japan , and even Russia ’s Siberia . In 1994 she was certified with the Association of Professional Landscape Designers,and from 1996 to 2004 she was on their Board of Directors, first as Webmaster and in 2003, as President

Certified Members seeking to be profiled should send before and after photos with SHORT design intent statement to:

Bethany Dennis
APLD Communications Manager
Email: communications@apld.org
Phone: 717-238-9780

* PHOTOS SHOULD BE CLEAR COLOR PRINTS OR JPEG COMPRESSED FILES