Backyard Oasis: A Garden That Evolved Over Two Years

From Patio to Paradise

The most impressive landscapes sometimes aren't planned—they just evolve. When Kendra Phelps and Norbert Kappel installed a new flagstone patio in their San Jose side yard, they had no intention of a full backyard renovation. They simply wanted to replace a narrow concrete path. But that project led to another, then another, until they completely transformed every inch of their pie-shaped lot.

After the patio, they broke ground for a large pond. Phelps designed the structure and chose materials; Kappel handled electrical, plumbing, and woodworking. Both worked on installation. "We're of the mind-set that there's really nothing we can't do," Phelps says. "We asked a million questions along the way. I took inspiration from everywhere—I stopped people on the street if I liked their garden."

A deck, pergola, new planting beds, and a lawn followed. The makeover took two years, and the couple is thrilled.

Five Great Ideas from This Garden

1. Build a retaining wall that doubles as seating. Phelps and Kappel set a band of flagstone pavers—wide enough to sit on comfortablyatop a low retaining wall adjacent to the pond.
2. Use an arbor to divide the garden into "rooms." They built a gently curving overhead trellis as a subtle divider between the pond area and the lawn.
3. Plant bold foliage for accents. Large-leafed elephant's ears, burgundy cannas, and Japanese maples enliven the pond's boundaries.
4. Use stones to make a water feature look natural. Phelps spent hours placing boulders around the pond to mimic a wild setting.
5. Plant low-growing groundcovers between dry-laid pavers. A mix of creeping and woolly thyme, blue star creeper, Scotch and Irish moss, and small grasses softens the crevices.

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