Lotus Project Portfolio

Serene Gravel Patio with Specialty Plantings

TImeline: 3 weeks
Budget: $25,000+
Designer: Nicole Lloyd
The Vision

These homeowners love plants and wanted a landscape that had a lot of unique and beautiful specimen plants, as well as interesting color changes throughout the season. They also needed a space to sit under their amazing Spruce and Oak trees.

The Challenge

The two mature trees in their yard are likely hundreds of years old and have an extensive root system. We wanted to make sure that the trees were protected and we did minimal excavation to ensure that they’d make it through the project.

Lotus Gardenscapes logo mark
Design & Plan

Several specimen plants were chosen with the homeowner including specialty conifers (evergreens) and Japanese maples, including one that was shipped from Oregon and 2 others from local specialty nurseries. We decided to install a gravel patio and a stepping stone walkway instead of using an application that required a deeper excavation and base, and used boulders and bermed the soil around the patio to create a sunken, hidden feel to the space while still allowing anyone using the patio to be able to enjoy the view.. The clients also loved the informal feel of these material options. Perennial plants we used included Hellebore, Maidenhair fern & Mazus groundcover. A shrub border to give some privacy from the road was also installed using Oakleaf hydrangea and Calycanthus.

Project Features
Specimen plant material
Seasonal interest
Stepping stone path and gravel patio
The Results

Serene Gravel Patio with Specialty Plantings

The landscape even after just one season is looking beautiful and provides a comfortable and casual space for this client to relax and read and book, or have a conversation with a friend while sitting in nature in a space that feels like it was created just for them.

Project Image Gallery
Project Testimonial

Karen G.
Landscape Design Build & Horticulture Client - 2021
I loved working with Nicole Lloyd and the team at Lotus. I had long admired some of their installed landscapes in the local area, so I finally turned to them when I was ready to make some changes in my yard. Nicole was so easy to work with on design, bringing her own expertise and ideas in response to my vision and preferences on plants, colors, structure and more. She gave me the option to go with her to a nursery to choose some of the key plantings, and she was so flexible as we had to make on-the-fly design changes on the project. The horticulture team was incredible, efficient and knowledgeable. They were also careful not to destroy my lawn in the process with equipment and stones. The final outcome is so beautiful. I love it every single day, from every window, and every walk I take outside to enjoy it.


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