Meander Farm: How a Small Backyard Became a Garden You Can Get Lost In
Lara Hermanson
Some gardens make a statement. Others make you slow down.
Meander Farm does both.
When one of our clients moved into a new home, the backyard was little more than a blank canvas. Like many suburban lots, it wasn’t especially large. But they weren’t dreaming about a bigger yard. They were dreaming about a more immersive one.
They envisioned winding paths, flower-filled borders, archways draped in roses, places to pause, spaces for pollinators and vegetables, and plenty of room for their golden retriever to enjoy the garden alongside them.
Most of all, they wanted a landscape that felt like it had always been there.
Designing for Discovery
One of the biggest design challenges wasn’t fitting everything into the space.
It was making a relatively modest backyard feel much larger than it actually is.
Instead of relying on expansive lawns or large patios, the design uses gently curving pathways and a series of garden archways to divide the landscape into smaller “rooms.” Each turn reveals something new—whether it’s a seating area, a collection of cut flowers, edible gardens, or garden art.
The result is a landscape that encourages exploration rather than simply being viewed from the patio.
Plants Do the Heavy Lifting
Many landscapes depend on expensive hardscaping to create impact. Meander Farm takes a different approach. Here, the plants are the architecture.
Sweeps of flowering perennials, climbing roses, pollinator plants, vegetables, berries, citrus, and ornamental flowers work together to create an environment that feels lush, colorful, and surprisingly peaceful. The abundance of planting creates a sense of enclosure—a garden that wraps around you instead of sitting beside you.
It’s a reminder that thoughtful planting often creates more beauty than additional concrete ever could.
A Garden Built Around Real Life
Like every Farmscape project, this landscape wasn’t designed just to look beautiful.
It was designed around the people—and pets—who use it every day.
The garden includes raised vegetable beds, edible perennials like artichokes, citrus trees, strawberries, blueberries, gathering spaces, and plenty of soft lawn where Lily can stretch out in the shade.
Even the homeowner’s extensive collection of garden art found a home throughout the landscape, making the finished garden feel deeply personal rather than professionally staged.
The Best Gardens Reflect the People Who Live There
One of the things we love most about Meander Farm is how collaborative the project was.
The homeowner came with a clear vision for what she wanted, and together we shaped that vision into a landscape that supports wildlife, grows food, invites exploration, and feels unmistakably like home.
Because great gardens aren’t about following a formula.
They’re about creating spaces that reflect the people who live in them.
Ready to Reimagine Your Backyard?
Whether your dream is a productive edible landscape, a pollinator paradise, or your own secret garden, thoughtful design can make even a modest backyard feel extraordinary.
Let’s create a landscape that’s beautiful, functional, and uniquely yours.