Town of the Blue Mountains Front Entrance

Blue Mountains Front Entry

Owen Landscape Architect discovered this sculptural specimen after having visited a number of nurseries. It is a "Blue Alps Juniper Serpentine"

Rustic planters made from corrugated metal given a rust patina provide an effective grounding for this split level ranch-style home located in the Town of the Blue Mountains. 

Nottawa Pool Cabana

Nottawa Pool Cabana

An iconic structure within the landscape, it's tilted roof beckons you to enter it's cozy realm!

A Country Planting Bed

Tracy and I have finally completed our feature planting bed at our country residence. We decided that a circular bed would be most appropriate - on axis with the front door. There had been an existing overgrown bed at the time we acquired the property, whose purpose was likely to try and disguise the well up stand pipe. As before, we kept the bed mounded to minimize the pipe's presence. Metal edging is a perfect choice to separate the bed from the lawn - a clean, subtle effect. Boxwood forms a semi circle facing the road with Japanese Spurge as the main ground cover. An exotic "Mountain" type variety of Hosta is cluster around the well upstand pipe to perfectly disguise it. The focal point is a wrought iron urn featuring a "Kimono Dragon" Begonia.  The late afternoon sun illuminates the bed just so - a truly amazing effect!

Evolution of a Design

An Explanation of the Process

This is an example of an initial Concept Plan. Based on the client's criteria combined with my particular interpretation of what the space's unique possibilities are. I find that it's best to not be too constrained at this initial stage by a budget, but rather explore the properties full potential!

Once the Initial Concept is approved, a preliminary working budget is prepared based on a more refined plan which allows for quantifiable calculations of materials.

This Presentation shows how I use image typologies to clearly define the design intent for the client and the potential contractor. In this particular design you can see that "Cor-Ten" steel design elements are used. This amazing material will be utilized for the laser-cut garden screens, the "Living Room" patio end table (for a gel fire trough feature), and the planters on the deck.

This is an example of a Detail in sketch form. A package of Details is required for the built form elements to be constructed.

A Tuscan Garden

 Tuscan Garden

Maple, Ontario

Immediate challenges posed by this relatively compact site was the setback from the creek running across the back of the property, and the raised podium (due to a parking structure beneath), creating a rather narrow space where the pool would logically be situated.

The client had sourced specimen pyramidal cedars to create a continuous hedge across the back of the lot. As I felt this was too static, I proposed an outdoor fireplace as both a focal point for the back yard, and a dramatic backdrop. The cedars were then situated at either end.

Flanking the interior side of the fireplace, and merging with the pool is a masonry wall housing a sheer descent waterfall at the mid point of the pool. Specimen upright yews create the back drop with a row of Karpick Maples beyond. Privacy is thereby achieved using the taller cedars as bookends - thereby creating much more visual interest.

The raised podium terrace was transformed into an intimate  garden "room"  with the addition of a post and beam arcade. The rough sawn cedar timbers have thin threaded wire connecting from the underside of the beam to decorative rectangular pots where twining annual vines can climb thereby creating an intriguing visual separation.

www.owenlandscape.com

A Garden Shed

Garden Shed

I am a firm believer that elements in a garden such as sheds need not be strictly utilitarian. They can be key components of the overall design of the space. This shed I designed for a backyard in Moore Park is situated at the mid point of the garden, replacing an old dilapidated garage and possesses an almost Japanese tea house type of quality.

Refer to my website for a comprehensive look at various projects www.owenlandscape.com

Meadow-rue!

Tracy and I fell in love with this flower from Little Tree Nursery in Fergus and planted in the country place. When the evening sun caught the efflorescence it was stunning! Tracy grabbed her Nikon and started shooting.....