Projects
“Galen was wonderful to work with! He provided prompt and regular communication, and he designed the perfect layouts for our front and backyard spaces. His expertise and guidance were essential in re-designing our spaces. I would recommend him to anyone looking for some landscaping help, whether your project is big or small.”
Below is a small sample of past projects that I have brought to life, but my expertise extends beyond the projects you see here. If you have a project in mind that doesn't fit the mold, don't hesitate to reach out! Email me, and I will be happy to answer any questions.
New Home Under the Sun
This landscape design for a newly-built house prioritizes sustainability, drought resistance, low maintenance, and integration with the native ecosystem. It avoids conventional lawns owing to their high water requirements and lack of ecological benefit. Locally sourced boulders help navigate the slope to the backyard. Evergreen privacy trees for the back provide screening and a companion Yellowwood tree joins the front garden for shade and visual balance. A 'scent garden' provides a sensory experience during the growing season.
Restore and Redesign
The before and after views of this shady backyard couldn't be more different. Once a humble patio, it became a littered with debris and clutter over the years. Working with homeowners determined to reclaim their backyard, it was transformed into a usable space in the form of a permeable paver patio and surrounding shade gardens. A low seating wall was constructed around the stately Linden tree to give it its proper space amongst ferns and ephemeral plants. The wall was even built using reclaimed bricks from a revered neighborhood structure that had been torn down.
Sun and Shade Rowhouse
Starting from the top, this DC rowhouse had a sky view but not much more than that. A natural wood enclosure created a whole new outdoor room, complete with hanging planters to customize throughout the seasons. In the backyard, a new brick patio, refreshed gardens, a sleek fountain, and repurposed elements were added to the shade trees and their natural cover to upgrade this urban retreat.
Leafy Backyard Patio Addition
This new patio's design features a thoughtful selection of shade-tolerant plants, creating a visually appealing and comfortable outdoor space. The addition of a strategically placed corner pergola not only provides shade but also adds a touch of architectural interest to the backyard. The combined elements of the patio, plants, and pergola create a harmonious and inviting outdoor retreat.
Modern Backyard Escape
This landscape plan transforms a long, narrow backyard into a sleek, low-maintenance oasis, embracing the modern aesthetic while harmonizing with the local environment. Sun-loving native plants were chosen with a restricted palette of greens and whites, creating a sophisticated look. On the new patio, integrated gabion benches, filled with river stones, provide seating and add a rustic, industrial touch. A strategically placed border of tall ornamental grasses creates a natural screen from the driveway.
A Backyard Reborn
This once-neglected backyard was a canvas of untapped potential. The space now has a new life after starting anew with a permeable patio seating area, upgraded storage spaces, and a new lawn. A new privacy fence borders the revitalized native-plant garden and two shade sails keep the hot summer sun at bay. Along with some fixes to the existing deck, electricity was extended to an electric vehicle charger out back. Now it's a cozy gathering spot that will be enjoyed for years to come.
Woodland Erosion Control
This plan for an expansive, sloping backyard prioritizes sustainability, erosion control, and integration with the native ecosystem. It avoids hard structures like retaining walls and embraces the natural slope, using creative solutions like a dry creek bed and native plants to manage rainwater and stabilize the terrain. Native, shade-loving plants help hold the soil in place while new evergreen trees provide privacy and year-round visual interest.
Backyard Patio Refresh
This design revitalized a small urban backyard plagued by a broken patio and a neglected garden bed. Plans included installing a new herringbone pattern brick patio and cleaning and re-using the old pavers in the storage area, which saved money. Native vines were planted on trellises in the revitalized perennial garden to add height and color and contrast to the newly-painted yellow garage.
Backyard Privacy & Front yard Rejuvenation
Design plans for this DC space revitalized a spacious backyard characterized by extensive lawn, underutilized areas, and fragmented plantings. It included re-grading the yard edges, refreshing the front yard planting, introducing a walkway through a rejuvenated garden of native plants, and a shade garden area.
Backyard Enclosure and Beautification
A small, struggling backyard was upgraded with a new fence, bluestone patio surface, and two separate seating areas softened with plant beds in between. A gravel-and-paver walkway leads to the side yard along another shade garden.