A Garden at Pt. Reyes
Inverness, California
This residence on Point Reyes is located on a wooded, north-facing hillside with distant views of Tomales Bay. A tall retaining wall along the south edge of the site creates a level space for the garden and entry to the house. The site was designed to complement the modern style of the house and to reflect the owner's interest in Japanese gardens. A drift of native vine maples forms an entry gate to the garden and screens the house from the road. Alternating bands of low groundcover and gravel define the floor of the garden. The vine maples and circular shrub planters provide an informal counterpoint to the rhythm of the gravel and groundcover. Stepping stones weave through the garden, creating a casual path to the circular wood deck located outside the living room.