Susan Morrison, owner and principal designer of Creative outdoor landscape designhas created hundreds of gardens in the East Bay area of California. His designs incorporate comfortable outdoor living spaces into landscapes of all sizes, from hilltop estates to postage stamp front yards.
The garden at Susan's house features spaces designed for relaxation and entertaining surrounded by an artistic and aquatic plant palette. Focal point plants in key locations draw the eye across the landscape and invite visitors to explore. In this episode, Susan describes her thought process for locating focal plants and shares some of the eye-catching cultivars she uses most often.
Susan's favorite focal plants include:
Coral Bark Maple 'Sango Kaku' (Acer palmatum “Sango Kaku”, Zones 5–9)
Zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis “Zebrinus”, zones 7-8)
Yucca 'Bright Star' (Glorious Yucca “Bright Star”, zones 7-11)
whale tongue agave (Agave 'Ovatifolia', zones 7-9)
Photos of Susan's home garden:
An extendable outdoor table is a cozy place to entertain.
Placing a pot fountain near a seating area provides soothing ambient sound as well as visual interest.
A colorful backdrop draws the viewer's eye into the garden.
Planning patios, paths and circulation areas on paper will help you find the best solutions for your space.
Finding a place for her favorite armchairs was a priority for Susan.
The whale tongue agave is planted near a path, so its beautiful color and texture can be fully appreciated.
Birds enjoying a meal at the feeder are another fun focal point in Susan's garden.