Six African sumac trees provide not only much-needed shade from the afternoon sun but also a lovely setting for the dining area. Dan Seaver, left, and Will Speck bring out breakfast. A small patch of grass lies close to the house between two California sycamores; the rosemary hedges in the foreground separate an area planted with vegetables and fruits.
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Its my secret garden, landscape designer Ric Mondragon says of his charming Japanese-style pavilion, which, along with his cottage, is tucked behind a Craftsman house. The retreat is all about scale and proportion. How did Mondragon make his 22-by-16-foot garden feel more spacious? The grassy area expands the floor and acts like an area rug; the teahouse creates a separate room. They guide the eye, and that psychologically translates into space.
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A statue of Ganesh, the revered Hindu elephant god, that Mondragon brought back from Cambodia resides in his garden.
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Its a tiny oasis of calm for humans and wildlife in the concrete jungle, Ian Kimbrey says of the L-shaped garden between his house and home office. Wife Joanne Forchas says it puts your mind in a good space. Designed by Jay Griffith, the garden features an aboveground pond (a new galvanized cattle-feeding trough) and a corrugated aluminum screen.
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Water lilies in the aboveground pond in the Forchas-Kimbrey garden. Native plants and shelter for birds make it a National Wildlife Federation-certified habitat.
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A sculpted Panton chair sits in the garden of Juan Jose Quintana and Daniela Rechtszajd. Concrete pavers, mid-ground plantings in plinths, and tropical accents create a sense of depth. Decorative and functional elements include benches, a fire pit and colored glass balls.
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A lounging area in the front yard of the Quintana-Rechtszajd garden.
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The view from Thomas Schallers shower. Timber bamboo towers in the background and a red Japanese maple and blue gray senecio provide color.
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A wisteria frames the outdoor area outside the living room and kitchen. Japanese maples and purple aeonium add contrast.
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A view from the back of Schallers house outside the master bedroom.
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At Thomas Schallers garden in Venice, concrete squares seem to float over the pool and lead to a carpet of artificial grass. The manufacturer, Synlawn, says its faux turfs are far more realistic-looking than the products of years past. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
