We were in the middle of the latest drought and it was time to reduce the amount of lawn in this well-established garden in Atherton. On our first visit, the client reached for a book of Piet Oudollf’s work. “Have you heard of him," she asked? Of course I had. Piet is one of the pivotal figures of modern landscape, and one of my personal heroes. His work has been referred to as the “New Prairie Style.” His use of semi-wild plants in semi-wild groupings has helped shape the New American Garden. We used a similar approach stylistically but with the added caveat that our plants use minimal water.
Landscape design: Chris Jacobson
Landscape contractor: Michael McConnell / Scapeworks
Photography: Caitlin Atkinson