This garden is a hidden oasis, nestled into the eastern slope of San Francisco’s Forest Hill neighborhood. The existing condition was challenging — a disjointed, slippery slope, cut apart by crumbling brick stairs and a moldering concrete foundation. Still, there was great potential as well — the microclimate of the yard was lush from persistent fog, and the site was blessed with a massive Tree Fuschia (Fuchsia arborescens), a magnet for hummingbirds and the largest specimen of its kind we had ever seen!

The slope of the site demanded some form of terracing, which we introduced as a series of redwood decks. We also worked to anchor the space with additional organic focal points, including Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa) and Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus subsp. aspleniifolius), both California natives. Vibrant ferns and grasses helped fill out the plant palette, making the most of the site’s ambient moisture.

The terraced language and redwood construction of the decks carried into other elements as well — fences, stairways, seating — lending warmth and cohesion across the garden. We also placed a series of meandering redwood stumps throughout the planting, tying together the far corners of the yard and providing a space for play and exploration for the family’s young child.

Still, sometimes our favorite part of a project is making the most of something that’s already there — and in this garden, we love watching the Tree Fuschia sprinkle the redwood stumps with tiny pink flower petals and soft, dappled sunlight.