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Transformations

Meditation Garden site at Springbrook Nature Center was overgrown with sumac and poison ivy.
 


Entrance to the Meditation Garden with the lead Solstice Stone casting its shadow at dawn on the fall equinox. On the summer solstice the shadow is cast on the stone to the left, and at winter solstice, the one on the right.
 


Bubbling rocks add the dimension of sound. Unique split boulders for seating invite walkers to linger.
 


A peaceful retreat for listening to the birds and the wind in the poplar trees. It has become a natural extension of Springbrook's mission to appreciate nature.
 
View from the upper deck of a Lake Harriet area home before work began.
 
Beginning construction.
 


An artist's hideaway, complete after only 3 days.
 


A new intriguing side entrance to the back yard garden.
 


An Edina home with new landscaping sweeping around the trees and sidewalk, extending the visual impact of the house.
 

Before view of home in Edina.
 


A Woodland in Blaine is integrated with the back yard by grass paths that lead into carefully constructed woodchip trails that protect native ferns and wildflowers. Flowering trees, shrubs and groundcovers give rich variety with minimum maintenance.
 
Before, the woodland was closed off from the back yard by a fence, artificially shortening the property.
 


This Andover home's strong architecture was softened with masses of dwarf shrubs and accented with flowering trees.
 
Before view of Andover home.
 

St. Paul's Monastery View from the new Monastery Building towards the old Monastery.  A colonade of Linden trees lines the land bridge between the two new drainage ponds.  A pair of large White Pines punctuates the bottom of the stairs.  Hundreds of  new native trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses line the pond.  Weeping Willows and a Catalpa tree will conceal the far bank.  This large Rain Garden will collect runoff, provide shade and food for wildlife as it reflects the reverence for all life that the Benedictine Sisters are known for.
 

The view from the new Monastery from the front door, before planting.
 
Nature Center, After
Springbrook Nature Center after Gardens of Rice Creek did a "complete makeover".
 
Spring Brook Nature Center, BeforeSpringbrook Nature Center before the new landscaping.
 
Library Courtyard
Gardens of Rice Creek created this magical viewing garden in the Courtyard of the Anoka County Library in Fridley.
 
Library, AfterOnce the Courtyard at the Library was done, the outside perimeter had its turn. This is After Gardens of Rice Creek removed trees that hid the building and added others that brought out the features of the unusual building.
 
Library, BeforeAngular rocks echoed the angular lines of the building. Sitting rocks in a reading circle, and this singular one invite outdoor reading.
 
Library, BeforeBefore the makeover the building was cold and industrial looking, or hidden behind overgrown trees. Many generous groups and individuals came together and contributed time and treasure to make Fridley's Library a happy place.
 
Abandoned PoolAn abandoned swimming pool, enclosed by a high board fence composed the whole visible rear yard of this spacious Edina home on 1 1/3 acres. We tore out the pool sides, surrounding concrete and fence, and regraded the site to create a viewing island with a grassed waterway to bring rainwater away from the home.
 
Sod in
Only 3 weeks after we started we had planted these special garden bonsai trees, mulched the island with crushed limestone and planted sod. In addition, we planted hundreds of native trees and shrubs for privacy, which replaced the invasive buckthorn and weed trees we removed.
 
Lawn
Now the view from the back windows sweeps over the lawn and island, up the hill planted with flowering Magnolias and Juneberry to the oak forest at the summit. Native flowering trees, Magnolias and groundcovers completed this beautiful, low maintenance landscape.
 
DeerAfter one year, a newborn fawn rests contentedly beneath a dwarf pine tree on the rocky island bed.
 
Deer
 
Collector's Garden saved
A Plant Collector's garden had gotten out of hand. Hundreds of precious wildflowers--even a yellow Ladyslipper--were overrun by weeds, and she almost felt like abandoning her beloved garden. Fortunately she called on us. We rescued every one of her garden treasures, redesigned the garden and replanted them in an orderly way. Notice how the recycled Lamium 'White Nancy' nicely softened the new waterfall? Now she comes home from her teaching job, sits on the deck with a glass of her own home-grown herbal tea and enjoys perfect contentment.
 
ReshapingA terraced garden faced a beautiful view, but lilacs had squeezed in from the right side of this picture, narrowing the yard. We removed the lilacs and built a privacy fence, with neighborly lattice gates, to match the other side. After that, we reshaped the soil and brought in large boulders.
 
Cliffs and steps
Only 6 weeks later the cliffs are in place, steps and ramps descend the terraces and sod is laid. Note the aged Weeping White Pine was undamaged by the construction. The watercourse in the foreground connects a pool and waterfall.
 

A view of a unique rock-covered house we balanced with boulder steps, hosta, and groundcovers.
 
Lake HarrietThe Peace Garden at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis is our most visited landscape project. In this photo from 1985, the main cliff and the sweeping walkway are just becoming visible. Built on the site of and with the boulders from a rock garden from the 1920's, it has been completely re-imagined and is much more extensive.
 
Harriet today
Another view of the Peace Garden from 2006 shows the growth of the conifers in the garden and the enthusiastic appreciation of some of its many visitors. We are most grateful to the Minneapolis Park Board for the opportunity to create this garden over many years.