Susan Morrison is a renowned landscape designer based in California’s East Bay area. With her company, Creative Exteriors Landscape Design, she has transformed numerous outdoor spaces, creating comfortable and inviting gardens for her clients. Susan’s own home garden is a testament to her design skills, showcasing thoughtfully arranged spaces for relaxation and entertainment, all while maintaining a water-wise plant palette.
One of Susan’s key design principles is the use of focal point plants to draw the eye and create visual interest in the landscape. These plants are strategically placed to create a sense of balance and harmony in the garden, inviting visitors to explore and discover new perspectives. In a recent episode, Susan shared her thought process for siting focal point plants and highlighted some of the eye-catching cultivars she frequently uses in her designs.
Among Susan’s favorite focal point plants are the ‘Sango Kaku’ coral bark maple, known for its vibrant red bark and delicate foliage. This striking tree (Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’) adds a pop of color and texture to any garden, creating a focal point that can be enjoyed year-round. Another favorite is the Zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’), with its unique striped foliage and graceful form. This ornamental grass adds movement and drama to the landscape, making it a popular choice for many of Susan’s designs.
In addition to trees and grasses, Susan also incorporates succulents and agaves into her garden designs. The ‘Bright Star’ yucca (Yucca gloriosa ‘Bright Star’) and Whale’s tongue agave (Agave ‘Ovatifolia’) are both drought-tolerant plants that add a sculptural element to the garden. These plants thrive in the California climate, providing year-round interest and requiring minimal maintenance.
Photos from Susan’s home garden showcase the beauty and functionality of her design choices. An expandable outdoor table is the perfect spot for entertaining guests, while a pot fountain adds a soothing ambient sound to a seating area. A colorful backdrop draws the eye deep into the garden, creating a sense of depth and perspective. Lounge chairs are strategically placed to take advantage of the best views, while plants like the Whale’s tongue agave add texture and color to the landscape.
Planning is key to creating a successful garden design, and Susan emphasizes the importance of sketching out patios, paths, and circulation areas on paper before implementing them in the landscape. This process allows her to work out the best solutions for each space, ensuring that the design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
In Susan’s garden, even the wildlife plays a role as a focal point, with birds enjoying a meal at a hanging bird feeder. These small moments of nature add to the overall charm of the garden, creating a dynamic and ever-changing landscape that is both beautiful and inviting.
Overall, Susan Morrison’s garden design philosophy is centered around creating comfortable outdoor rooms that seamlessly blend into the surrounding landscape. By incorporating focal point plants, thoughtful design elements, and a water-wise plant palette, she is able to create stunning gardens that are both visually appealing and environmentally sustainable. Whether working on a hillside estate or a postage-stamp front yard, Susan’s designs are sure to inspire and delight all who experience them.
