Notes from designer and Landscape Manager – Matt Ripley

The Dry Creek Valley in Healdsburg is a landscaper’s dream palette as the planting conditions are magnificent and vistas are world class.  When we were approached by this client to design the landscapes for their new home construction we couldn’t have been more excited to work with such a large flowing space and collection of landscape features including a pool, fountain, weaving pathways, bocce court, and large scale food production garden. Through a blend of contemporary farmhouse and naturalistic design elements we took this blank slate and transformed it into the ranch of our client’s dreams, primed for entertaining guests as well as finding respite in the Healdsburg countryside.

While the property was ripe with opportunity it was not without challenges.  The previous owners prior to our client had essentially treated the property as a junkyard for old farm equipment, abandoned vehicles, and a wide range of miscellaneous farm debris strewn about.  Clearing the site, completing thorough soil analysis, and addressing the severely compacted soils was our first set of tasks.  We found the soil to be very compromised due to oils/debris and took a wide range of remedial efforts to amend the soil to establish a healthy and vibrant soil foodweb capable of supporting a thriving landscape.  Tilling and then going through the property with a fine tooth comb to remove old bits of metal and farm equipment fragments was essential to be sure there weren’t hazards remaining long term.

Then came the fun part, designing a space that allowed for entertainment, food production, and ecological enhancement!  The clients wanted to create sweeping outdoor spaces that allowed your eyes to drift to the vistas and vineyards beyond the property line while inviting pollinators in to support their food production gardens and vines.  We introduced a diverse plant palette of CA native and climate adapted plants that brought in Monarch, Tiger Swallowtail, and Painted Lady butterflies in droves, not to mention a broad spectrum of other native butterflies and pollinators. The client requested a color palette that remained within purple, white, green, and pink, which was a unique opportunity in design restraint while also selecting plantings with maximum ecological benefit.  The front entry of the house is accented with a grand fountain that includes large pools of water which allows birds and pollinators alike to stop for a drink within view of the main windows of the house.

For entertainment we introduced a full-scale bocce ball court with concrete curbs and grey DG / Oyster Shell playing surface for durability without compromising game play.  Each end of the court featured a crushed rock seating area to allow spectators to hang out and players to rest between turns.  Additionally the grand pool with fountain feature was centered off the back deck which included an expansive paver patio with a natural-stone textured surface.  The pool area is complemented with a small lawn to soften the area and provide a cool space to lay out by the pool just beyond the patio perimeter.

The client had a grand vision and motivation to grow as much food in the wonderful conditions of the Dry Creek Valley so we installed an expansive collection of creatively arranged corten steel planters full of rich compost that has produced epic harvests over the first season and a half of gardening.  Each bed has its own individual irrigation controls allowing for precise irrigation and the ability to isolate each bed should they decide to leave some areas unplanted.

This Dry Creek Contemporary Ranch project was a wonderful example of a client who both trusted our design guidance, but also collaborated directly with us by providing an initial vision for the form and function of the landscape.   We have a deep appreciation for the dynamic that was established and are proud to introduce a new ecologically diverse and grand landscape to the Dry Creek Valley.

See Below for Before and After Photos!