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Lush Garden in the Las Vegas Desert

The desert landscape of Las Vegas is tough: Water is at a premium, and the soil is poor. Fortunately with this couple, their land abuts conservation land that provides a canopy of color over their backyard, and they found landscape architect Jonathan Spears of Sage Design Studios, that understood how to make the most of this microclimate. “The few wanted to reflect the regional arena in the front and have a ‘staycation’ destination at the trunk,” says Spears. “They’re very busy professionals that prefer to come home and relax in the backyard after their long days at work.” Spears completely redesigned the front lawn and the driveway to include desert-appropriate plants and curb appeal. Back, he worked with the shade to make a lush and relaxing atmosphere that requires minimal water.

in a Glance:
Location: vegas
Size: Front: roughly 4,500 square feet; back: roughly 2,800 square feet
That is intriguing: Before Spears’ landscape intervention, the property’s water bills averaged approximately $200 per month; today they average about $50 a month.

Sage Design Studios, Inc..

“The majority of the front lawn used to be controlled by drive,” says Spears. He reconfigured the driveway into a semicircle and paired it to the rocks he used in the front lawn using Scofield Mesa Base Colorant. “less drive equals curb appeal,” he says.

Sage Design Studios, Inc..

“The remaining portion of the front lawn was sod,” says Spears. “I really like to eliminate sod; using sod in this climate contributes to rampant wasting of water.” More appropriate and desert-tolerant blue yucca and agave dominate this corner of the front lawn.

Sage Design Studios, Inc..

Other plant choices in the front lawn include golden barrel cacti, euphorbia and a lacy red bird-of-paradise.

A full flatbed truck’s value of Utah ledgestone was likewise added from front, connecting the house’s facade to the increased desert landscape.

Sage Design Studios, Inc..

The tree to the left is a Palo Verde (you have a fantastic opinion of it in the first photograph on the left side of the home). Its leaves are small and have a feathery appearance in the distance, and it blooms profusely with yellow blossoms. “The Palo Verde includes a green trunk and branches along with a superb structure that looks beautiful all year,” says Spears.

Sage Design Studios, Inc..

Plantings in between the new drive and the sidewalk include yucca and agave.

Sage Design Studios, Inc..

The backyard has quite a different microclimate than the front lawn, as a result of the canopy provided by the shade trees. “Because of their microclimates, there can be up to some 30-degree difference between the temperatures between the front and backyards,” says Spears. “Cacti would not live in this shade; the desirable effect was to make the backyard seem lush without requiring a great deal of water. I also prefer to keep things organic and chose hardy plants that will not require the use of pesticides.”

Sage Design Studios, Inc..

Upright boxwoods and purple cordyline add color and contrast to the backyard. “I rely on foliage in order to add texture and colour to the backyard,” says Spears. “The true test of a plant palette is how it seems in September, after surviving the harshest months in the desert.”

Sage Design Studios, Inc..

The hot tub on the left was existing; Spears brought in dry-set quartzite pavers to connect it to the rest of the backyard and make more of a grotto feel. “The celebrity jasmine gives the area a beautiful fragrance for three to four weeks,” says Spears.

Other plants in this area include crepe myrtle trees and lilyturf.

Sage Design Studios, Inc..

Creeping fig, Oregon grape and purple ajuga encircle an existing art deco fountain and a 9-foot wall. “I really like to play with light and dark foliage; here that the glowing green leaves are a highlight contrary to the darker colours,” says Spears.

More:
Great Desert Plant: Parry’s Agave
Garden Design Essentials: Thought

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