It’s fun for me to revisit landscape design projects through our blogging efforts, especially when they date back to the beginning of Eagleson Landscape Co. I met the owners of this lovely home when I was working at Allisonville Nursery over 20 years ago. Their builder introduced us, and I helped them with the landscaping for their first house. When they decided to move to a new home near the Zionsville/Indianapolis border with more property, they reached out to me again and became one of the first Eagleson Landscape clients. My team and I have done a lot of work for them over the years; these long-standing relationships are one reason why I love doing what I do.
When my clients moved into their brand new home, we installed foundation plantings, placed sod for the front and back lawns, and added a full lighting design. The goal was to keep the landscaping near the house a bit more formal and gradually move to a more natural look the further we got from the house to blend with the natural surroundings.
The location of the septic lift station presented a challenge – it was right out the front door! We needed to hide it yet allow for maintenance access. I designed a circular concrete walkway around the lift station and place a large planter in the middle that could be moved when necessary. My clients could fill it with seasonal plants, and it created a lovely focal point for the entryway to the home. Only I, the builders and the homeowners ever knew the septic was there. From a visitors parking area, we added a walkway with a cold joint pattern to add character and with a wider design to formalize the entry.
My clients had a pool installed in the backyard, which ended up creating a steep hillside. We kept that area naturalized with groundcover, and then added some key plantings and boulders near the pool edge. We were striving for a simple look with seasonal color, particularly during summer. The next year we added a patio with a firepit and an informal seating area. We wanted to keep the more formal feel near the house, but not nearly as much as the front yard.
About three years after moving into the home, my clients purchased the lot next to theirs, on which they wanted to build a volleyball court for their daughters. The lot sloped down from the home, so we created three tiers with retaining walls and added two staircases. My clients turned the area closest to the house into a wildflower garden and the second tier was an open turf area for volleyball viewing or entertaining. The lowest tier housed the regulation sized volleyball court to which we added removable telescopic flag poles mounted with lighting. A dense hedge of Snowmound spirea as well as strategically placed nets helped keep the chasing after errant balls to a minimum.
My clients’ family and landscaping have evolved over the last 20 years, but we still help maintain the property. I am so thankful for all of my clients, the ones I’ve had for years and those I am just getting to know. If you are looking to start a long-term relationship with a landscape design firm, reach out to us! Send me an email or give me a call at (317) 997-4803.
