A large scale project requiring the construction of a flagstone sidewalk over Cherry tree roots. Custom wrought iron was put in after 18 ft tall holly and magnolia trees were planted with no collateral damage. 4 weeks, July 2009.
Iron Gates
Flagstone Sidewalk
This garden gate, arbor, fence structure was built to enclose a newly reconstructed backyard. The vitex and camellia were left in place and pruned to look natural. 2 days, June 2009.
Wood Arbor and Fence
Stone Wall Drainage System
Aged Sidewalk
Head Wall
To prospective clients of John Russell,
When we purchased our home, our backyard area was a big concern. It was an oddly shaped space with a terrible drainage problem. We were unsure of what to do to correct the drainage issue and to create an outdoor space that our family could enjoy. We did lots of homework before deciding on John Russell.
John spent several hours at our home with us during our consultation and really made sure that he had captured exactly what we wanted in his plan for our backyard. We were absolutely thrilled with his design! It is so unique and unlike anything we had ever seen before.
The very next week, John’s crew began construction on our project. The quality that stood out with John and his crew was their professionalism. We always felt confident that John would get the job done right and that is exactly what he did. His crew was on time each and every day and worked diligently all day long. At the end of each day, all of the equipment was put away and they always made sure to pick up anything out of place. They were truly a joy to work with.
It has now been five months since John completed our project. We have thoroughly enjoyed our space and we will for many years to come. We knew that we would be pleased with the outcome, but John and his crew exceeded all expectations. We have a beautiful area for our family and our drainage problem is completely corrected. John still stops by every now and then to check on the plantings and to make sure we are still happy with everything.
We couldn’t be happier!
We will most definitely work with John again in the future and highly recommend him for any job, large or small.
-Abby and Matt Valas
This project was very ecological. We busted up the front driveway into 2’x 2’ chunks and used it build walls and terraces in the back yard. We cut up the sidewalk in front to create serpentine stairs. All rock used was from stone found on site. The entire landscape functions as a drainage structure. Buff concrete was used to create the new front driveway and parking areas. We also designed and built a covered porch and fireplace on site. Plantings were used to enframe the space and hold the slopes.
Customer comments:
For years our family had always hated summer for two reasons, one Alabama weeds love the humid weather and rain always caused drainage problems. John Russell not only addressed both issues, but made the yard our sanctuary. He even recycled our old cracked driveway as retaining walls in the uphill back. He softened the look with the addition of stones his crew retrieved from our creek. I am happy to say our yard, both front and back are now not only functional, but beautiful. With John’s direction we added a screened in porch complete with a fireplace. A great place for entertaining when our grown children return for a meal. I must also add that his crew are all pleasant and kind people.
-Patty Wilson
Step Entrance to Woods
Composite stone steps lead from one garden space down into another. The concrete step stone walkway repeats materials used elsewhere in the garden. The sculpture at the end of the walk was made on-site Spaces are created with mostly native and traditional Southern plant materials including Southern Magnolia, dogwoods, oak and maple trees, hollies, hydrangeas, gardenias, itea, and camellias. Birmingham, Al
Garden Entrance
This complicated garden required importing hundreds of yards of fill to build the walk and fountain shown in this image. The focal point of the garden is created with the grey strip rubble crescent runnel which culminates in the urn fountain. This fountain is visible from multiple locations in the garden and serves as a pivot for the overall layout. Spaces are created with mostly native and traditional Southern plant materials including Southern Magnolia, dogwoods, oak and maple trees, hollies, hydrangeas, gardenias, itea, and camellias. Each focal point in the garden reveals the next space in the garden. Native was used as well as gas lighting. Birmingham, Al (more…)
A concrete and brick sidewalk is used to create a riding loop through the garden for children and bikes. The spaces were created with traditional southern garden plants including itea, southern magnolia, tea olive, viburnums, azaleas, daylily, hydrangeas and assorted other shrubs and groundcovers for shade and scent. Birmingham, Al.
Backyard Track
Entry Walkway
This is an entry into a backyard garden. The concrete step stones were dry laid in crusher run limestone gravel. Massing was created with Indian hawthorn, lambs ear and dwarf yaupons, with the “tunnel” formed from wax myrtle and Nellie R. Stevens holly. Birmingham, Al.
This modernist garden was design as a transitioning materials walkway. The patio is graded from stamped concrete to solid concrete step stones, to running concrete step stones in crusher run gravel and finally to crusher run gravel only. Crisp edging is provided by metal. Plantings consist of native plant material and vegetables. Birmingham, Al. (more…)
The Spiral Garden
The Spiral Garden was designed for the curator of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and built for a show in Knoxville, TN. The design is based on an overlay of the Fibonacci sequence, ADA, and the structural unit of CMU (8”). It was designed to pull the visitor up though a ramp along a series of cascading pools with fire burning at the uppermost fountain and steps down. The elements of fire, water, earth and sky were all present in the design. Changes in structure (cascades) were a reflection of quantum changes in the basic building unit. The proposed stone is travertine, which has spiral shells (conforming to the Fibonacci sequence) embedded. Not built permanently.
The Spiral Garden Display
Appalacian Mountain Stones
Drawf Hookera and Stream
Who says you can’t move mountains? Through carefully planned creative landscaping, I was able to create a mountainous feel in this clients backyard. This stream and pond were created as a part of a courtyard renovation. The owners wanted to create a sense of being in the Appalachian Mountains. This was achieved by using native mountain materials such as native stone, ferns, serviceberry, rhododendron, leucothoe, etc. The patio is stamped concrete in a brown tone to match the natural stone.
I am excited to be able to offer my customers and friends a landscaping focused blog that will keep you up to date on my most recent projects. Photos will be added shortly with details of each project.
If you are located in the Birmingham, Alabama area and want to learn more about the benefits of landscape architecture, please fill out our brief contact form and I will respond to you shortly.
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