A recent renovation of a 1990s home built on the Western shores of Mercer Island features a tropical landscape design by Seattle’s Cambium, Inc., done in Mediterranean Villa style – with an abundance of plants bursting with color, unique flower formations and reach-for-the-sky height.

Small space, big dreams. This backyard revamp from Cambium Landscape in Seattle transformed a modestly sized, ho-hum back lawn into a vibrant outdoor living room. Luminous natural materials, clever space-saving tactics, and lush plantings that rely on foliage rather than flowers combine to give this back patio classic contemporary style.

Cambium creates a Seattle landscape with elements that combine the homeowner’s Virginia childhood with native Northwest plants. 

The Williamses’ family garden in Dunthorpe evokes distinctly English impressions. The existing challenges of the site, like the spring-fed brook, are met with naturalistic plantings that embrace its meandering flow. The garden’s mission, however, is not only to serve as a lovely place to be, and a model for Liz Williams’ paintings, but also provides abundant fresh cut flowers for the house.

Portland garden designer Lauren Hall-Behrens transforms her own garden from a disorganized jumble of fruit trees into a serene paradise filled with hardy Asian tropicals and bold sculptural walls.

Landscape architect Larry Cavender transforms a worn down lakeside property in Lake Oswego into old-world elegance with lovely framed views of the lake, inventive plantings and timeless paving.

Floral designer Erin Benzakein’s initial passion to grow sweet peas grew into Floret Flower Farm in Washington’s Skagit Valley.

In 2004, Tom and Lisa Brenneke undertook a major renovation of their 1909 Italian style Portland Heights home and gardens, a stately stucco villa within walking distance of their two businesses.

When a Vancouver, Washington family buys an adjacent lot to enlarge their home, their garden expands too and the garden’s original landscape designer, Michael Schultz, returns with a new vision.

Garden designer Tish Treherne shares her sunny, shoreline garden on Bainbridge Island with us. The garden is a lovely four-year work in progress filled with sun-loving color and form.

Portland floral designer Kailla Platt returns to the garden of her childhood to gather aged branches and heirloom blooms for her sumptuous, seasonal arrangements.

Landscape designer Michael Schultz and his partner Will Goodman transform a city lot in Portland’s Mocks Crest neighborhood into a tropical retreat with lush broadleaf evergreens and bold blooms.

Use seasonal edibles and pretty ornamentals to recreate these summer arrangements from Portland floral designer Kailla Platt.

With an opportunity to buy the house behind them, landscape designer Michael Schultz and his partner Will Goodman now have 9,000 square feet of back yard space for their gorgeous tropical oasis.

Portland floral designer Kailla Platt celebrates the arrival of spring with sweetly-colored blooms and botanicals sourced from local flower farms.

Grab your pruners and this stem count from Portland floral designer Kailla Platt to make your own spring arrangement.

Use this floral recipe from Portland floral designer Kailla Platt to create a sweet arrangement for spring.

When Susan and John Bates purchased their home in Portland’s Riverwood neighborhood in 2002, they knew that its garden came with some serious horticultural credentials. We visit the ‘new’ old garden.

Portland’s Fieldwork Flowers outlines a stem-by-stem plan for easy, elegant spring bouquets.

Erin Benzakein of Floret Flower Farm blends the dusky shades of blackberry and copper beech.  Use her stem count to create your own black beauty.