Earth and Sole
Called upon to upgrade the curb appeal of this quaint Riverside row house, Earth and Sole said “nay” to a predictable English garden, choosing instead to complement the home’s cottagey vibes with a desert design. The pea-gravel and river-rock garden serves as a nod to Arizona landscapes, and is peppered with drought-resistant succulents, silver-violet shrubbery and ornamental grasses like blue fescue and black mondo, to name but a few. The porch enjoys full views, screened from the street by high Corten steel planters in concert with the red brick building. Waste bins make a short trip from beyond the planters and cedar walkway to the curb via a pathway of Wiarton limestone slabs. These too are functional, raised so as not to disturb the roots of an aging evergreen. A gardener’s garden, this remarkable variety of plants watered only by hand will fill the visual gaps of rock and metal with texture and vibrancy as seasons pass.