Landscape Of Dreams

Landscaping her family’s garden on a sheltered hillside high above Stinson Beach, Patricia Benner has nurtured lush planting  and an exquisite floor palette that evoke the Monet-style gardens of her childhood. 

 Today a tapestry of purple verbena, blue salvia, purple coneflower, pale mauve perovskia, pink Japanese anemone and palest pink achillea flourish beneath fragrant citrus trees. Sheltered by a low knoll, a pink magnolia tree and swathes of scented jasmine surround her quiet terrace.

“The garden evolved organically, part by design and part by chance,“ said Benner. 

‘This is my on-going weekend project and was planted in sections, as my husband and I got to them.  He, the irrigation master, and me, and a couple of local assistants,  the planting labor,” noted Benner.  Plants were added in as she snapped up finds from nearby nurseries. Unlike her meticulous planning for clients, nothing was planned or on paper.

“Stinson Beach is in the Golden Gate National Recreation area with Mount Tamalpais towering overhead and Bolinas to the north,” Benner said.  “It’s a charming, rugged coastal community with a very laid-back culture and a fundamental connection to nature and the elements. That’s why my planting is somewhat informal.“

The plant-specific irrigation system she set up allowed her to combine favorite California natives and drought tolerant plants with beloved cottage garden perennials she remembers from her youth.  Gravel paths meander through the garden and widen to allow  seating areas in natural shelter,  where the family enjoys white water views of the ocean.

“I learned to garden from my mother, a landscape designer who practiced in suburban New Jersey,” said Benner. “From her, I gathered the finer points of planting and tending, and attuned my ear to gentle rhythms of the seasons.”  

“The best landscape design offers a transformational experience, and my preference in dazzlingly sunny California has always been to highlight the cooling properties of verdant fronds and lush greens” said Benner. “I also love cozy garden hideaways and soothing colors. 

Kumquats, pineapple guava,  and Meyer lemon trees she planted now offer gentle shade for her terrace. 

“As a landscape designer, I have never had the instinct to bend nature to my will but rather to create a naturalistic palette, like my mother’s,” said Benner.  “My work emphasizes long-term, sustainable and site-specific exterior design. I take a patient, holistic approach, informed by years of research, study, and generational insight. This has given me a hillside garden with pretty foliage and lovely flowers and evergreen trees that are handsome throughout the year. Our slow approach means it will retain its beauty and vigor many years into the future.”