This impressive home is situated on the Indian River Lagoon in East Central Florida, within a restricted gated community. The design challenge here was to create a landscape that would not only satisfy the needs of the client, consider the integrity of a beautiful and unique site and the buildings architecture while adhering to a rigid community design code.  In general this is not a difficult restriction, but it can keep the landscape designer from being too experimental in the creation of the gardens.

The riverfront yard is one of expansive views and manicured lawn. The vista towards the Indian River Lagoon is breathtaking and the large number of foxtail palms are placed to frame the residence when viewed from the river and then again frame the open water views from every room on the west side of the house.

Every day in this section of the garden you can routinely expect to see a number of dolphins playing, manatees rolling in the water, schools of fish milling about and a constant array of water birds soaring overhead and diving into the lagoon. The formal swimming pool is linear in design, in sympathy with the linear flow of the river’s lagoon to the west. Bronze children play with water in the small pond that flows into the swimming pool. A break in the sitting wall allows the river to be a backdrop for this  fountain sculpture. A niche in the terrace at the base of the sitting wall allows a creeping fig vine to cover these walls and soften the hard-scape in this area.

The west elevation of the house faces some of the most desirable vistas from this property. The porches and terraces also provide the primary entertainment areas for the family and  guests. Foxtail palms are used to provide some shade from  the west  setting sun. A soft green lawn separates the west veranda from the swimming pool, with step stone pavers providing access to the pool terrace. Bougainvillea vines help frame and cool the bay windows from the western sunlight.

Side-yards are typically areas that are often ignored during the landscape design process. That wasn’t the case in this garden. Many guests prefer to arrive at the swimming pool  or access the dock by the side-yard route rather than passing through the house. Planters at the sides of the bronze sculpture receive seasonal blooms and the north perimeter garden leading to the dock are replenished annually with fresh annuals and perennial flowering plants

The entire south perimeter is bordered by a mangrove forest and wetland marsh system. The beauty here is natural but restrained by  periodic trimming which is healthful to the natural system. As the residential portion of the property is higher than the mangrove forests, retention walls have been introduced. Where privacy is desired from a neighboring house to the south, dense tropical forms have been introduced. This section of the garden is yet another individualized landscape concept that comfortably settles into the unified design that works so well in this locale.

This sunken garden is located between the street and the motor court. The lower elevations were created when the building site was elevated well above the natural grade of the existing live oak tree roots. A flagstone path was added and moves throughout the sunken garden. The transition boundary between the higher and the lower levels is created with natural loose stacked boulders. Orchids are growing in  trees and on the ground in concert with bromeliads. Exotic tropical plantings are collected and scattered in random positions throughout this sunken garden. A waterfall creates a low level sound of water within the garden. This is a popular destination for guests to visit and linger while enjoying the sights, sounds and aromas of this lush, moist tropical environment.

The motor court introduces visitors to this beautiful home. An expansive brick surface provides more than  adequate room for residents to arrive at or leave the three car garage and still have plenty of parking spaces for guests. A custom designed cast bronze compass plaque in the center of the motor court informs visitors where north is, just in case they get confused in a new locale.

All in  all we think that you’ll agree this this is a magnificent home on the outside and you can rest assured that it equally as spectacular on its inside.

The following photographs should speak for the garden details and the video tour following this article will provide additional detail for those who may want it.