Cowell
Atherton, California

Atherton, California
Design, Install, Maintenance — Petrus Landscape
When we began this project, it was a tired old landscape that had not been maintained for years. The client had expressed interest in developing French style gardens throughout the property, focusing on a hardscape entrance with dense plantings around the foundation.
French gardens often use cool colors in their plant palette and use lots of Boxwood and formal lines. We installed limestone flagstones for the entranceway with Elfin Thyme planted in between. A large marble fountain custom ordered from France was installed in the courtyard area.
Salvia ‘Amistad’ was planted around the foundation combined with ‘Limelight’ Hydrangeas and ‘Black Knight’ Buddlieias.





Continue the portfolio.
Vista Verde
Grand estate grounds where privacy, mature canopy, and formal restraint define the landscape.
Las Olas
Grand estate grounds where privacy, mature canopy, and formal restraint define the landscape.
Coastal estates where wind-shaped cypress, fog, and the Pacific set the terms of the landscape.
A deep understanding of Northern California landscapes
1
Climate & Ecology
We design with Northern California's Mediterranean climate rather than against it — reading each site's microclimate, soil, and light to select planting that thrives with restraint.
11
Architectural Context
Every estate is composed outward from its architecture, so the landscape feels inseparable from the residence — whether restored Spanish Colonial or contemporary design.
111
Long-Term Stewardship
The gardens we create are maintained by the atelier that built them, ensuring pruning, planting, and refinement follow the original design intent for decades.
