NATIVE LANDSCAPE DESIGNS

ANNA MARIA CITY HALL GROUNDS

   

THE ISLAND PLAYERS COURTYARD AND CITY HALL PARKING LOT IN THE HODGEPODGE STYLE OF THE PRE-PERFECT ISLAND 1990s

HERE RESTORED FOR ISLAND STYLE LIVING, MEANING TOES IN THE SAND ... AND THAT GOES FOR THE BUILDINGS TOO!

... AND SEEING MORE OF THIS ISLAND'S OWN VEGETATION IN LIEU OF ASPHALT AND AUTOS

 

THE STUDIO AT GULF AND PINE

ACROSS THE STREET, RHEA CHILES CONVERTED AN OLD RESTAURANT INTO AN ELEGANT ART GALLERY AND MEETING VENUE

WITH THIS PHOTOSKETCH I PROPOSED A NATIVE ISLAND LANDSCAPE

TO WHICH IT IS NOW WELL ON ITS WAY

 

THE PINE AVENUE RESTORATION PROJECT

THE P.A.R. PARTNERS TRANSFORMED A LIFELESS CITY THOROUGHFARE INTO A LAID BACK WALKABLE COMMUNITY CENTER ...

BUILDING NINE MODEST LOW-RISE RESIDENCE-OVER-RETAIL COTTAGES ...

   

WITH PARKING LOTS AND MEANDERING PATHWAYS OF COMPACTED SAND-SHELL...

ALL EMBEDDED IN AUTHENTIC BARRIER ISLAND LANDSCAPING

 

HISTORIC GREEN VILLAGE

THE GREENEST CONTRIBUTOR TO "THE GREENEST LITTLE MAINSTREET IN AMERICA" EXEMPLIFIES THE RULE ...

"GARDEN WITH EXOTICS, LANDSCAPE WITH NATIVES" WITH THESE MERCHANT-SPONSORED PUBLIC COMMUNITY EDIBLES GARDENS

 

A CANAL FRONT COTTAGE ON A 75X100 LOT

IF YOU RID YOUR YARD OF CONCRETE, ASPHALT AND PAVERS, ...

AND ERADICATE YOUR LIFELESS LAWN (OR MOWN WEEDS), ...

YOU CAN TRANSMUTE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AN UTTERLY UNDISTINGUISHED PROPERTY INTO A CHARMING ISLAND HIDEAWAY

IN A PARADISICAL ISLAND-SCAPE ... NOTE THE QUIET GRAY-FINISHED RECTANGULAR POOL WITH WIDE WOOD COPING AND CURVY ORGANIC DECKING

 

NOTHING MORE MAGICAL THAN DINING IN THE CENTER OF A CIRCLE OF CABBAGE PALMS

IT'S THE ISLAND'S ONLY NATIVE PALM ... AND WHILE A SINGLE ONE MIGHT NOT BE THE PRETTIEST PALM, AN ABUNDANCE OF THEM IS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD!

 

AN UGLY DUCKLING TRANSFORMED

CLIENT JOB #1: GRASP THE ONE WORD THAT SUMS UP THAT DRIVEWAY AND PAVER WALK YOU WANT TO KEEP ... "MISTAKE"!

OWNERS CONSISTENTLY PREFER SWEEPING UP THE LITTLE SAND THEIR DOGS CAN'T SHAKE OFF OVER THE STAINS OF LAWN AND GARDEN DIRT ON THE SOFA

 

A VERY OLD AND VERY TINY DUPLEX

AN INDEFATIGABLE NATIVE RED CEDAR CUT TO THE GROUND IS NOW 8 TREES OVERWHELMING A PITIFUL STRUCTURE ON A BARREN LOT

BUT JUDICIOUS FENCING AND A GENEROUS PALETTE OF SHRUBBERY AND SMALL TREES CREATES TWO PRIVATE MARITIME FOREST GARDENS

 

ANNA MARIA'S HISTORICAL PARK

THIS IS AN IDEAL INSTANCE OF THE MARITIME FOREST THAT WOULD COVER THE MIDDLE OF OUR ISLANDS IF NO ONE HAD EVER COME HERE

   

AND IF, WHEN WE DID COME, WE WOULD HAVE JUST SLIPPED OUR HOMES INTO THE CLEARINGS, ... THAT WOULD BE AN AUTHENTIC ISLAND LANDSCAPE.

 

A BAYSHORE STORMWATER RUNOFF AND TIDAL FLOOD CAPTURE POND

CAREFULLY ENGINEERED TO KEEP STREET RUNOFF FROM POLLUTING THE BAY AND TIDAL FLOODS FROM INUNDATING STREETS, BUT UGLY AS SIN!

WITH THIS PHOTOSKETCH I PROPOSED CONVERSION OF A VISUAL BLEMISH INTO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSET

THE CONTRAST OF 250 SAND INSTANTLY BRIGHTENS THE SETTING ...

AND ISLANDS IN THE POND CREATE A MORE INTERESTING VISTA ...

A PATH AROUND THE POND ENABLES KAYAK LAUNCHING ... AND SAVES THE COST OF A BRIDGE

MRS. MALLARD PROMPTLY APPROVES THE DESIGN ...

WHILE A GULF FRITILLARY ENJOYS A SEA-OXEYE DAISY ...

IN A MATTER OF MONTHS, NATURE TAKES HOLD ...

AND AN ASSORTMENT OF BIRDS EXPLORE THIS NEW TERRITORY

EACH ON HIS OWN ISLAND, I SAY ...

THE NATIVE LANDSCAPE DESIGNER'S GOAL IS ACHIEVED WHEN NO ONE IMAGINES IT WASN'T ALWAYS THERE ...

DEMONSTRATING HOW WRONG IT IS TO JUST ORNAMENT YOUR HOUSE WITH PLANTS ... AND NOT LANDSCAPE TO INTEGRATE YOURSELF WITH NATURE.

 

PROPOSAL TO CONVERT AN ASPHALTED BLOCK INTO A WALKABLE ISLAND EXPERIENCE

SAND-SHELL OR ASPHALT? ... A TOWN ON THE BEACH OR A SUBURB OF PHILADELPHIA?

PROPOSAL TO CREATE A COMPACT ISLAND VILLAGE ON THE GROUNDS OF A DERELICT MALL

A COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATION OF THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL WITH THE NATURAL!

RESTORE THE AUTHENTIC IDENTITY OF THE PLACE WHERE YOU LIVE!
CALL MICHAEL AT 941-779-6097   CONSULTATIONS ARE FREE

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