Our client wanted us to incorporate a Japanese garden theme for the entry yard area of their Lake Minnetonka home. When we first studied the site we decided that the existing Arborvitae hedge separating the front yard from the auto court should stay and that it was also a good starting point for our new garden. So the garage, hedge and the asphalt auto court were the given physical structures of the project. From there we also decided to keep the foundations of existing brick planters flanking the entry steps and use them with an updated look.

Posted in Asian Gardens, Fences, Garden Art, Garden Types, Japanese Garden Design, Landscape, Stonework No Comments »

The millstone entry fountain commands attention from approaching guests visiting this beautifully landscaped home in Greenwood, Minnesota. As one of the properties on display in the 2000 parade, of homes we have received many compliments for this landscape design and construction work […]

Posted in Asian Gardens, Dry Garden, Fountains & Water Features, Garden Art, Garden Types, Home Landscape Design, Landscape, Patios, Stairs, Stonework No Comments »

The Japanese stone garden, or Japanese sculpture garden, is a small garden enclosed within a brick sitting wall. When we were hired by the owner of Yorktown Offices in Edina to prepare a landscape maintenance report, we also made suggestions for small improvements which included remodeling the east and west entries. Both of these new entry walks and steps incorporated matching brick sitting wall planters […]

Posted in Asian Gardens, Garden Art, Garden Types, Landscape, Stairs, Stonework No Comments »

This Italian courtyard garden was designed to compliment our clients’ newly constructed town home and incorporated a number of garden decorations. The garden theme was that of an Italian city garden, pocket garden or courtyard garden […]

Posted in Garden Art, Garden Types, Italian Gardens, Landscape, Patios No Comments »

The entry arbor and driveway improvements were the primary focus of this landscape design / build project. The existing drive was too steep leaving guests exiting from their vehicles while parked at an uncomfortable angle. The grade also dropped off quickly from the front of the house, leaving little room for the stoop and entry walk. From the start of our design work, we set out to make major changes that would eliminate these problems, while creating a basketball play area and beautifying the property. To achieve this, a switchback driveway was created.

Posted in Arbors and Pergolas, Entry Monuments, Garden Art, Landscape, Landscape Lighting No Comments »

Here our clients were expanding their living space by converting their existing garage into a new entry and constructing new a garage addition. It was Niwa’s responsibility to design and build a new entry walk that would have a water feature of some sort and deal with ice build-up in the winter. We were also in charge of the new driveway layout, which needed to accommodate a basket area […]

Posted in Fountains & Water Features, Garden Art, Landscape, Walks No Comments »

The Koi pond water feature is the highlight of the “Inherent Garden”, a complete landscape revitalization project in Edina, Minnesota. We completed phase I of our landscape work in November of 2001. The new plan embraced the layout of the horseshoe driveway which had a large perennial flower bed […]

Posted in Design Ideas, Fountains & Water Features, Garden Types, Landscape, Landscape Lighting, Ponds & Koi, Walks No Comments »

This Japanese styled comprehensive landscape design / build project, completed in the fall of 2003 welcomes guests with a lushly planted inner garden. Located on the street side of the house, this garden features several large boulders carefully set in a craftsman like manner creating well a balanced and natural effect […]

Posted in Asian Gardens, Garden Types, Japanese Garden Design, Landscape, Paths, Stonework No Comments »

The “Inner garden” is just one of the outdoor rooms within this landscape design / build project, located in Shorewood, Minnesota. This Japanese styled garden is one that allows visitors to stroll through the garden, much like a Japanese stroll, or hill & pond garden […]

Posted in Asian Gardens, Garden Art, Garden Types, Japanese Garden Design, Landscape, Paths, Sculpture, Stonework No Comments »

The Monet garden is one of the outdoor rooms within the total landscape design build project. Located along the side of the barn and visible from the home’s front entry boardwalk and the adjacent dining room, the garden is a show of color throughout the growing season […]

Posted in Flower Gardens, Garden Types, Landscape, Paths, Perennial Gardens, Perennials No Comments »