Climbing neighborhood peaks is one of San Francisco’s great delights — Twin Peaks, Tank Hill, Bernal and Corona Heights… There’s something magical about seeing the city rolled out before you, its topography carved out in hills and valleys. Underfoot the city’s geology lays bare, the bedrock washed clean by the wind and overgrown by a host of hardy, clinging plants.

We wanted to capture that feeling for this garden in Noe Valley. Set atop a rocky outcrop with stunning views, we were inspired by the underlying geology just below the surface.

But there were clear moments of opportunity as well. We refined and expanded upon an existing system of terraces, using them to provide distinct moments for entertaining and relaxation.

The garden was built during one of the rainiest winters in recent Bay Area history. We took advantage of the weather by seed bombing the hillside with a mix of native wildflowers.