This multi-level woodland residence in the Oakland hills had undergone significant renovations in recent years, including the installation of a magnificent interior stairway and a landscaped slope that flanks a long path to the entryway. Ease of care, deer resistance, and textural beauty guided all exterior plant choices. A meditating space to the right of the home features three large cement containers, which were replanted with a highly textural combination of Asparagus densiflorus and Libertia peregrinans. 

The latter plant’s signature golden blades are a nod to a fire that gutted part of the home but didn’t destroy its beautiful soul. On a raised platform by the front door, a sculptural Aloe plicatilis replaced a struggling cactus. The back of the home has a fire deck which receives strong afternoon sun exposure. Another large cement container anchors this space and was refreshed with new plantings of Agave ‘Blue Glow,’ Mahonia repens and bromeliad. A showy Ponytail Palm in a shallow planter makes a lush if not whimsical centerpiece for outdoor gatherings and is impeccably framed by a living room window.