Built to conquer a challenging hillside slope, this project balanced heavy-duty engineering with lush, dramatic shade design. We constructed a multi-tiered retaining wall using Stonewall II pavers to significantly flatten the front yard’s pitch, installing an integrated subsurface drainage system behind the wall to manage water runoff and protect against erosion long-term.

On the top tier, nestled beneath the natural canopy of existing trees, we established a rich, high-contrast shade garden. The plant palette brings dynamic texture and pops of vivid color throughout the seasons—from the bright orange blooms of Mandarin Lights Azaleas and dark foliage of Forever Red Coral Bells to the delicate early blooms of Pink Lady Hellebores and silver leaves of Jack Frost Brunnera. The entire bed was finished with perma bark rock, delivering clean visual contrast while providing heavy-duty, low-maintenance weed suppression.

Plantings include:

Nandina (Nandina domestica), Fothergilla (Fothergilla spp.), Pink Lady Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis ‘Pink Lady’), Jack Frost Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’), Mandarin Lights Azalea (Rhododendron ‘Mandarin Lights’), Hosta (Hosta spp.), and Forever Red Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Forever Red’).