Fig and Strawberry Garden {Sellwood Before and After}

Location: Sellwood, Portland, Oregon

Landscape Design: Alana Chau

Install: Mortar and Petal

Maintenance: Annie Koehler

There is nothing more delightful to me than sending people home with a piece of my garden. It's never fancy or expensive - more like surplus veggies, a plant that I haven't found a home for, a cutting from my jungle of indoor plants.

What joy when a client sends me home with figs and strawberries from her garden, which I designed and watched grow for many years.

How to See A Design Through The Trees

No really, it was hard to see the backyard with this monster of a fig tree spanning the entire space. There was never a question about whether or not this tree would be staying. Not only is it gorgeous and well established, but the homeowner loves the fruit.

Figs are very resilient plants, one of the few that can ignore the pruning rule of thirds. With this tree, you can shape it into any form you want and it will bounce back with a vengeance. In fact, my clients have much more trouble controlling it's size than pruning too much. Personally, I love these kinds of plants, but it's good to know what you're getting into!

BEFORE: a beautiful but overgrown fig tree and broken/unsafe hardscaping.

DURING: a strong restorative pruning is best done by a professional arborist. The client was very trusting that this would pay off in the long run. Gravel patio is starting to take shape as well.

AFTER: the fig is bouncing back and plantings are starting to fill in. Note the new stairs coming off the back porch - access makes all the difference in how often you'll use your patio.

Sustainable Methods and Materials

Similar to this project, replacing the entire fence was not desired here, both for environmental reasons as well as budget. But there were some lengths that needed visual coverage. We utilized a wonderfully sustainable material, bamboo, to screen the neighbors deteriorating shed wall.

A lush outdoor living space under the canopy of a fig tree. Although I haven't captured it in a photo yet, Isabelle says that this space is perfect at breakfast with the low-angle light casting a beautiful shadow on the bamboo screen.

In line with my typical approach in projects, stormwater management is integrated into the design to effectively direct roof runoff into the landscape. Contributing to flood prevention remains a key focus, allowing us to contribute positively to building a more resilient city, one house at a time. Our strategy involved implementing a drywell discreetly placed in the backyard, a rain garden in the front, and a ribbon driveway on one side, while the other side is predominantly permeable.

Second Seating Area in the Side Yard

I love creating a usable space from the oft-forgotten side yard, see Unused Driveway Becomes Outdoor Dining and A Family Garden.

Part of our job as Landscape Designers is to understand how to create spaces that can be enjoyed at different times of day and different seasons. We work in time, light, and weather. The side yard has completely different conditions than the primary patio off the back porch, so I knew it would be best enjoyed in spring, fall and on warm summer nights.

BEFORE: classic unused side yard.

DURING: the contractor is finished, awaiting furniture and patience (for the plants to grow). Castohn 3'x3' olympic paver with compacted 1/4" minus crushed rock patio.

AFTER: the garden isn't complete until it has comfortable seating to enjoy the space. This area has distinct blooming seasons. Here we are in August with Echinacea 'Magnus' stealing the show.

Isabelle says they spend so much more time outside now - eating, relaxing and hosting friends. How could they not?

Echinacea 'Magnus' and Castohn Olympic Paver

The pollinators are happy, too.