before after         Low-Maintenance Asian-Inspired Garden We worked closely with the owners of this garden, Rick and Susie Wade, during the design process. We used river rock on the edges tapering into a larger arrowhead shaped rock that tapers into a smaller rock. Oversized stepping stones create the footfall pattern along the path. Then we mixed in large, craggy boulders to bend the pathway around and to confuse the spirits who may enter the garden. A 12' wide by 9' high roofed bamboo privacy screen anchors one end of the L shaped property. Our "Sister and Brothers" privacy screen design shields the other side. In front of this we built an entertaining area by laying large slate flagstone, two of the largest pieces creating a doorway effect into another world. Beside this, we added our beautiful broken trellis, twenty feet long and eight feet high, and, of course, a grand arbor to usher you into the garden. Then we planted the garden with native plants and bamboo. Since we incorporated thick layers of landscaping fabric under the entire backyard, this garden takes very little effort to maintain.