5 Stunning American Landscapes: Coast-to-Coast Garden Inspiration

Let's journey across the continental U.S., from rural Maine to a modern Pacific roof deck. These five landscapes offer lessons for your own backyard, whether you're planting perennials or designing a deck.

Pastoral Property in Maine

A retired couple wanted to eliminate mowing two acres of grass. The new design features meadows, an orchard, and colorful perennial gardens near the house.

Manicured elements in the foreground—diverse perennials with three-season interest—give way to distant views of Acadia National Park and Blue Hill Mountain.

Lesson: Perennials provide a palette of colors, textures, shapes, and seasonal changes. Irises add tall green spikes and early blooms; lamb's ear contributes soft silvery texture at ground level for months. Read plant tags at the nursery to plan effectively.

Cottage Gardens in Virginia Wine Country

Two landscape architects created gardens near the homes of Jefferson and Monroe. A grass rectangle (tapis vert) is surrounded by perennial borders.

A staircase from driveway to back entry uses stones found on the property.

Extensive hillside border gardens welcome arrivals.

Lesson: A simple grass rectangle bordered by gardens is a striking, simple design. Place plants from shortest to tallest from grass edge to garden edge—check tags when positioning.

Sculpture Gardens on a Minnesota Lakefront

Once a tangled woodland, this property leverages spaces and views of Lake Minnetonka.

Entertainment space and sculpture placement drove the design, alongside spectacular existing trees.

A cutting garden occupies the area between the main house, pool, and tennis court.

Lesson: Choose flowers you'll enjoy using in indoor arrangements.

A Desert Oasis in Arizona

A well-planned backyard includes pool, open fireplace, outdoor kitchen, dining area, and ample lounging space.

Fire warms the outdoor lounge on chilly desert nights, matching indoor comfort.

Outdoor kitchen and dining keep everything close, maximizing outdoor time. Stacked stone, tile, and pops of orange, red, and blue create material continuity.

Lesson: Plan outdoor rooms like indoor rooms—consider arrangement, flow, scale, material continuity, and views.

Coastal California Roof Deck

In Marina del Rey where large lots are scarce, residents maximize vertical space. This expansive deck enjoys Pacific views with room for sunning and entertaining.

An extensive outdoor kitchen enables roof-top entertaining. Stacked stone creates continuity between outdoor rooms.

Lesson: Outdoor furniture is more stylish and durable than ever. Research pieces and fabrics like Sunbrella that withstand weather.