This garden, crafted by Jay Sifford, embodies a dream of blending the lush, shaded feel of the Pacific Northwest with the humid subtropical conditions of North Carolina. Featuring Japanese maples, conifers, and an array of ferns, this oasis brings a cool and calming greenery to a region more known for its warm climate.

Learn more about this garden here: Designing a Beautifully Lush, Dog-friendly Garden

The small urban lot was carefully designed to overcome privacy challenges with evergreens and retaining walls, softening the landscape and providing a natural enclosure for both the homeowners and their energetic dogs. Over the course of a decade, these thoughtful choices have transformed the once-exposed yard into a verdant, pet-friendly haven that beautifully merges two distinct climates. Here are some of the plants that make this space come to life.

1. ‘Waterfall’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Waterfall’, Zones 5-8)
2. ‘Yoshino’ Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’, Zones 5-8)
3. ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’, Zones 7-9)
4. Weeping Norway spruce (Picea abies ‘Pendula’, Zones 3-7)
5. ‘Bronzita’ New Zealand hair sedge (Carex comans ‘Bronzita’, Zones 7-10)
6. ‘Firewitch’ dianthus (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’, Zones 3-9)
7. ‘Black and Blue’ salvia (Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’, Zones 8-10)
8. ‘Blue Pacific’ shore juniper (Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacific’, Zones 6-9
9. ‘Butterfly’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly, Zones 5-8)
10. ‘Thunderhead’ Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’, Zones 5-8)
11. ‘Phantom’ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Phantom’, Zones 3-8)
12. ‘Everillo’ sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’, Zones 5-9)
13. ‘Feelin’ Blue’ Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara ‘Feelin’ Blue’, Zones 6-9)
14. ‘Obsidian’ heuchera (Heuchera ‘Obsidian’, Zones 4-9)
15. Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, Zones 3-8)
16. ‘Red Filigree’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Red Filigree’, Zones 5-8)
17. Holly (Ilex cv., Zones 4-7)
18. ‘Skylands’ oriental spruce (Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’, Zones 4-7)
19. ‘Mariken’ ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ‘Mariken’, Zones 3-8)

1. ‘Everillo’ sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’, Zones 5-9)
2. Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora, Zones 5-8)
3. Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’, Zones 4-9)
4. ‘Obsidian’ heuchera (Heuchera ‘Obsidian’, Zones 4-9)
5. ‘Shaina’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Shaina’, Zones 5-8)
6. ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (Thuja ‘Green Giant’, Zones 5-8)
7. ‘Skylands’ oriental spruce (Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’, Zones 4-7)
8. ‘Chindo’ viburnum (Viburnum awabuki ‘Chindo’, Zones 7-9)
9. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum cv., Zones 5-8)
10. ‘Ruby Falls’ Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’, Zones 5-9)
11. Big-leaf paper plant (Fatsia japonica, Zones 7b-11)
12. Itoh peony (Paeonia cv., Zones 4-8)
13. Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis, Zones 3-8)
14. Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora, Zones 5-8)
15. Endless Summer® hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmer’, Zones 4-9)

1. ‘Viridis’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Viridis’, Zones 5-8)
2. ‘Midnight Masquerade’ penstemon (Penstemon ‘Midnight Masquerade’, Zones 3-8)
3. ‘Everillo’ sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’, Zones 5-9)
4. ‘Duke Gardens’ plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Duke Gardens’, Zones 6-9)
5. ‘Green Arrow’ weeping Alaskan cedar (Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Green Arrow’, Zones 4-8)
6. ‘Van den Akker’ weeping Alaskan cedar (Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Van den Akker’, Zones 4-8)
7. ‘Emperor 1’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Emperor 1’, Zones 5-8)
8. ‘Mikawa Yatsubusa’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Mikawa Yatsubusa’, Zones 5-8)
9. ‘Obsidian’ heuchera (Heuchera ‘Obsidian’, Zones 4-9)
10. ‘Firewitch’ dianthus (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’, Zones 3-9)
11. Hinoki cypress hybrid (Chamaecyparis obtusa cv., Zones 4-8)

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