A Functional Landscape, Framed

The project began with a critical need for stormwater management in the side yard. A newly installed deck had intensified runoff, leaving lower areas muddy, eroded, and impassable. The solution was twofold:

• Redirect water flow away from the home to prevent pooling and further erosion

• Introduce structure and movement with a walkable woodland path—inspired by the client’s childhood memories of forest trails

The path not only stabilizes the ground, but also evolves with the seasons:

• Early Spring: Snowdrops, Scilla, and Hellebores emerge

• Summer: Tiarella, ferns, Astilbe, and Goatsbeard add texture

• Fall: White anemones offer a final moment of beauty

This was the first step in reclaiming the landscape—transforming a neglected, storm-ravaged slope into a quiet, rooted invitation to walk.

Seen from the deck and outdoor kitchen, the path became more than function—it became a seasonal painting in motion. A stormwater solution turned visual refuge.