The garden at Lodi Lane is one that unfolds and reveals itself subtly over time, through many strolls through the meandering paths as the seasons change. Set within a historic estate, the Victorian Stone house anchors the property and creates a backdrop for mature Sycamores, Oaks and Pines. Originally designed by Roger Warner as a picturesque garden showcasing both formal and informal planting areas, the new landscape respects this base while expanding program and allowing the garden to adapt over time, including the siting of an expanded contemporary sculpture collection.

The site is surrounded by vineyards, and sits within the floodplain of the Napa River, where the water table is high and variable. Subtle grading and earth-shaping carve out new areas for gathering out of the water table, including a new pool. Set within a hedge room, the pool patio is an insertion of contemporary form within the romantic garden, framing views of the sky and mature Valley and Coast Live Oaks beyond. Surrounding the pool, the garden is a collection of exuberant horticultural displays that showcase color and texture that both frame and borrow views from the surrounding landscape.

Location: St. Helena, CA

Status: Completed 2011-2018

Collaborators: Jennifer Weiss Architecture, Dexter Estate Landscapes

Photography: Marion Brenner