Every garden tells a story. For older homes, previous owners design decisions can be puzzling and often quirky! It's important to honor some of these choices, whenever possible, especially when it comes to established trees. In this case, a mid century home framed by a gnarled Mediterranean olive tree on one side and a graceful Japanese pine on the opposite. To bring these two aesthetics together, we chose a palette of CA native plants with a balance of soft and bold plants, a modern California approach that marries Japanese minimalism with Mediterranean vibes. A curved flagstone path invites visitors to wander through this space, slow down and take in the view.