• Location: Mahtomedi, Minnesota
• Awards: MNLA Merit Award, Residential Rear Yard Design

This new home on White Bear Lake had severe erosion problems due to the steep lawn sloping towards the lakeshore. The boulder wall, installed by the builder, was falling apart from wave action and stormwater discharge. Additionally, the lawn was too steep to use and the patio was too small and was crowded up next to the deck. Access to the back yard was difficult and unappealing, as it required walking down a steep sod slope between the property line and the huge blank stucco wall of the house. Our clients' desire was for a backyard that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Our first concern was to stabilize the lakeshore and address the runoff from the culvert discharge. We rebuilt the boulder walls three feet inland and reinforced them with fabric. We then designed a large gravel raingarden to absorb the influx of water during a rain event. The raingarden was lined with boulders and we created a dry creek overflow into the lake. During a storm event, the basin holds two feet of water that quickly infiltrates into the sandy soil. We then planted the lakeshore area with native grasses and perennials to further stabilize the soil and create soft edges to the space which otherwise is very open to the busy lake. Massings of switchgrass, little bluestem, and prairie dropseed bring interesting textures and movement to the landscape.

The balance of the property was then filled in with primarily herbaceous plantings and a few trees and shrubs. Our clients' goal was to have lots of color and movement, while keeping maintenance to a minimum. The end result is a planting design which uses predominantly native plants in large simple masses and drifts.