Los Angeles -- Bennett Garden

Located on 1/4 of an acre, the first Bennett garden in Los Angeles, designed in 1994-95, reflected the owner's Midwestern roots and love of English cottage gardens, with picket fences and lots of colorful flowers. In 2003, that garden was replaced with one that would be more appropriate to the Mediterranean climate of southern California. It included a terrace with a wisteria-crowned pergola and an outdoor fireplace for outdoor living. The Bennett Garden featured a limited palette, mostly shades of green, yellow and white, with contrasting textures. The lawn was reduced and perennials and bulbs spilled over the stone walkways and planted containers. Non-fruiting olive trees with soft green leaves gave height to the garden and an olive hedge disguised the vegetable and cutting garden that was planted behind the house in two wedge-shaped beds. A rectangular dark reflecting pool with steps forming a bridge was installed and filled with mosquito fish for insect and algae control. Fig trees were planted in front of a separate garden room and trained to grow together to provide shade for the outbuilding during the hot summer months and let in light in the winter, a passive solar design. This garden was maintained organically without pesticides or fertilizer.

The garden also features includes furniture purchased in England.

Persons associated with the garden include Robert Fletcher (landscape architect, 1987-1988); M. Brian Tichenor (landscape designer, 1988); Patricia Brenner (landscape architect, 1990); Judy Horton (landscape designer, 2003).