Inventive solutions enliven narrow back yard

Kate Gubelmann wasnt happy with the long, narrow section of her back yard that ran from the pool deck to the bocce court she installed 10 years ago in the upper portion of her property.

We play bocce on Sundays afternoons after lunch, Gubelmann told me. So we use it frequently.

She hired landscaping wiz Mario Nievera of Nievera Williams Design to liven up the backyard space, which at the time consisted of a straight walkway bordered by turf grass and a few trees. First, he replaced the linear path with a curved one, made from black river rock set in concrete.

Its like a river runs through there, Gubelmann said. He made it look like a much bigger space.

Then Nievera fashioned undulating beds on either side of the path, both of which are heavily layered with a wide variety of plant material.

I like green gardens with just touches of white, she instructed Nievera.

Accordingly, he layered mostly green-foliage plant material underneath the existing carrotwood, ficus and banana trees. But to break up the monochrome palate, he installed swaths of white ground orchids, white hibiscus and Hawaiian ti plants (Cordylinefruticosa tricolor). White orchids also are attached to tree trunks.

In another section, he contrasted burgundy crinum lilies with chartreuse aroids. To create further focal points, he created small niche spaces for Gubelmanns marble Buddha and a tall bronze sculpture she bought at a Taos, N.M., foundry.

Today, Gubelmann has a much more interesting yard to enjoy.

I just look out my window and smile, she said.

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Inventive solutions enliven narrow back yard