“Privacy was key, as they are on a fairly
flat site surrounded by other homes,”
says Francis. “But they loved the open
feel of the piñon juniper landscape, so
we created a strategy of weathered steel
screen walls and evergreen piñon trees
that would selectively provide privacy,
but still allow the expansive landscape
to ‘leak’ beyond the property.”
Adding aspen trees, which only grow
in the high desert of Santa Fe under just
the right conditions, was another client
request, so water catchment was a cru-
cial factor. “Our clients love aspens, and
in particular, they love the sound of their
leaves blowing in the wind, so we had to
address transplanting existing ones and
adding more,” recalls Francis. “More
importantly, aspens drink more water,
so we needed to find creative ways to
‘catch, carry and concentrate’ stormwa-
ter to this garden to help it thrive.”
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