What to Expect

From the first consultation to project completion, expect a refined, collaborative process that blends years of build experience with Master's-level landscape architecture expertise. We begin with attentive listening and clear timelines, then translate your goals into bold, site-responsive designs that prioritize beauty, durability, and ecological function. Communication remains direct and consistent throughout—detailed proposals, material selections, and progress updates keep you informed while our craftsmen execute with meticulous attention to detail. Anticipate practical solutions that respect budget and schedule, thoughtful plant palettes and water-wise strategies suited to Sacramento’s climate, and a finished landscape that performs beautifully for years to come.

❋ Intentional Design

Intentional design distills purpose and place into every line, material, and plant choice, creating landscapes that are beautiful, functional, and ecologically responsible.

❋ Collaborative Intent

We coordinate with clients, contractors, and ecologists via clear communication, iterative design workshops, and aligned project management to create durable, ecologically sound landscapes that reflect a shared vision and meet technical standards.

❋ Experiential and Referential Knowledge

We collaborate with seasoned, referential-knowledge experts whose years of hands-on experience and scholarly grounding in landscape design ensure informed, elegant, and ecologically responsible design solutions.

❋ Support

We provide clear, timely, and expert guidance at every stage of your project— from initial concept and permitting through construction and final walkthrough—so you always understand choices, costs, and timelines.

“Thoughtful landscaping does more than decorate; it crafts the land’s living room—directing movement, framing memory, and anchoring people to a lasting sense of place.”

A modern backyard patio with large stone pavers, desert plants, and a seating area under a wooden pergola, illuminated by small ground lights at dusk. 
Project One

The Arden Garden

Our first project in Sacramento, the Arden Garden was a collaborative effort with some of Northern California’s greatest minds. Incorporating extensive drought tolerant and fire-resistant plant material, tastefully elegant hardscape and structural elements and superior material choice, This job embodies my desert experience and adaptation to California.

Nighttime view of a backyard swimming pool with built-in lighting, surrounded by stone and tile patio, with trees and landscape in the background. 
Project Two

Mid-city oasis

Incorporating a swim-up bar into a sunken barbecue pit, a diving platform above a hidden waterfall grotto, multi-layered sunbathing decks, and extensive privacy plantings, this project thoughtfully crafts a distinctive backyard getaway that feels both secluded and luxuriously appointed in the heart of the city.

A residential street corner with a landscaped traffic island containing various plants and rocks, a street sign for 117th Ct, and houses with well-maintained yards in the background under an overcast sky. 
Project Three

Looking back to my Roots

A multi-phase, single-family residential project — later evolving into an HOA common-area collaboration with unfettered creative license — the Johnson residence has long held a special place in my heart. It stands as a refined product of my strongest ideas and represents a master class in collaboration, from initial concept through thoughtful production.

How It Works

  • Purpose: Define goals, budget, and regulatory context.

    What happens:

    • On-site or On-line meeting and property walk

    • Discussion of lifestyle needs (entertaining, privacy, views, vineyards, gardens, pools, etc.)

    • Aesthetic direction (modern, Mediterranean, vineyard estate, etc.)

    • Budget range and schedule

    • Preliminary review of:

      • Slope and buildable area

      • Access for construction

      • Viewsheds and privacy

      • Existing trees (especially oaks)

      • Fire risk exposure

    Outcome:
    Project scope defined and a design services proposal prepared

  • Purpose: Understand what regulations and site conditions shape the design.

    Key considerations:

    • Zoning + setbacks (County or incorporated city jurisdiction)

    • Oak tree protection ordinances (county and some HOAs)

    • Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) + defensible space requirements

    • Slope and erosion control constraints

    • Septic system location and leach fields

    • Well location and water availability

    • Stormwater management requirements

    • California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) compliance for irrigation

    What happens:

    • Review of survey and topography

    • Code and environmental research

    • Solar exposure and wind patterns

    • Soil and drainage assessment

    • Inventory of existing vegetation

    Outcome:
    Clear understanding of design opportunities and limitations before concepts begin.

  • Purpose: Establish the overall vision and layout.

    What happens:

    • Development of a conceptual site plan showing:

      • Outdoor living areas

      • Pool/spa zones (if applicable)

      • Lawn vs. drought-tolerant areas

      • Garden/vineyard spaces

      • Circulation and access

      • Major trees and screening

    • Initial material and style direction

    • Fire-safe landscape strategy

    • Preliminary construction budget alignment

    Client role: Provide feedback on layout, priorities, and character.

    Outcome:
    Approved concept establishing the design direction.

  • Purpose: Turn the concept into a detailed, coordinated design.

    What happens:

    • Exact layout and dimensions

    • Hardscape material selections (stone, concrete, decking, walls)

    • Planting design using climate-appropriate, fire-conscious species

    • Irrigation design approach (high-efficiency, drip-dominant systems)

    • Landscape lighting intent

    • Coordination with:

      • Architect

      • Civil engineer (grading/drainage)

      • Pool designer

      • Arborist (tree protection)

    Outcome:
    Refined design ready for technical documentation and cost validation.

  • Purpose: Produce plans contractors and permitting agencies require.

    Typical drawing set includes:

    • Layout and dimension plan

    • Grading and drainage plan

    • Erosion control measures (critical on Napa slopes)

    • Planting plan and schedule

    • Irrigation plan (MWELO compliant)

    • Lighting plan

    • Construction details (walls, steps, paving assemblies, etc.)

    • Tree protection plans if required

    Outcome:
    Complete build-ready drawing set.

  • Purpose: Obtain approvals before construction.

    May include:

    • County Planning or city planning department

    • HOA review (if applicable)

    • Oak tree removal or protection permits

    • Grading permits (for significant earthwork)

    • Stormwater/erosion control approval

    • MWELO documentation

    Outcome:
    Approved plans authorizing construction.

  • Purpose: Establish final construction cost.

    What happens:

    • Plans issued to qualified subcontractors

    • Clarifications during bidding

    • Bid comparison and scope review

    Outcome:
    Materials and Subcontractor selections with clear scope and budget.

  • Purpose: Ensure the landscape is built per design intent.

    What happens:

    • Periodic site visits

    • Coordination with other contractors and consultants

    • Review of materials and substitutions

    • Addressing field conditions (common with California soils and slopes)

    • Monitoring tree protection and erosion controls

    Outcome:
    Quality assurance throughout construction.

  • Purpose: Transition to ownership and long-term success.

    What happens:

    • Final inspection

    • Irrigation system training

    • Plant care and maintenance guidance

    • Seasonal establishment recommendations

    Outcome:
    A completed landscape and a clear path for maintaining it

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