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The gardens featured in this portfolio are a small portion of Daxin’s work. They are 2-7 years old, not fully mature yet but still showing the design intent.
To see a slide show of the images for each garden, please click on the first thumbnail image. The “previous” and “next” buttons will be hidden on the upper left and right corners of the slide show window — they are revealed when the mouse is moved. Enjoy!
- Fragrantopia
This is Daxin’s own backyard garden, designed and constructed from an empty dirt patch in 1999. It is less than 1500 square feet in size, yet feels at least twice as spacious. There are lots of hardscape features including a 1000-gallon koi pond, a custom square gazebo, a greenhouse for Daxin’s tropical plants collection, a built-in outdoor kitchen counter, and multiple seating areas. This is also Daxin’s experiment field of new and interesting plants so visitors will always find something new, especially those planted in over one hundred containers. About 40 different species of fragrant plants are scattered throughout the garden so some fragrance can be found everyday.
This is the view of the garden from the patio door. Layers of plants loaded with various textures and forms are anchored down by the negative spaces of the patio floor and the pond water surface. It is hard to see where the garden really ends.
Bold Calla lilies in the fore ground enhance the sense of depth and space when combined with fine-textured choices in the background.
The graceful upright leaves and blooms of water lotus add vertical interest to the pond. The shadows and reflections of surrounding plants on the water surface make the pond appear larger. 
From the south bank of the pond, the gazebo attracts the eye to the long axis of the garden.
This pebble and slate pathway invites exploration. Thoughtful details can make a simple path into a visual treat of its own.
Fall is the best season for ornamental grasses, especially when their seed heads are backlit by the sunlight.
A view toward the pond from the ‘tropical corner’. Palms, heliconias, bamboos, cycads, and taros are competing for attention with their exotic and colorful leaves. Most of these are perfectly hardy in the Bay Area.
This is a tiny side yard of only about 8′ x 10′ in size. Three raised beds define the peaceful retreat, which contains a small shed, a double-seat bench, three focal point plants in the raised beds, and a low bed of shade loving perennials.
View of the garden from the outdoor kitchen area. Raised plant beds made from Trex not only elevate interesting plants to eye level, but also defines the space with its own form and finish. In addition, they act as extra seating space during big parties.
- Hilltop Eden
This one-acre garden in Saratoga is perched on a steep slope with gorgeous views of the Santa Clara Valley and Bay below. To compliment the modern architecture of the house, which has strong geometrical forms and clean lines, Daxin selected many foliage plants with emphasis on forms and texture. One major challenge is the hordes of deers that roam the hills frequently, and they do not read the book on deer-proof plants. So a few plants have been replaced through this nature selection process.
This dramatic vanishing edge pool opens to a grand view. The terraces on the slope are filled with drought tolerant and deer resistant perennials and shrubs. Their strong color does not fade under the intense afternoon sun. 
Sea lavender, variegated Fortnight lily, and Lion’s Tail fill the front bed with color. A rare red Firebird New Zealand Flax balances the wonderfully twisting trunks of a native Coast Live Oak in the background.
A group of one of Daxin’s all time favorite evergreen perennials, Farfugium japonicum ‘Gigantea’, is proudly showing off their large glossy leaves against the light green fronds of Lace Ferns.
Three dark red Guardsman New Zealand Flaxes have maximum contrast in color, form, and texture with the underlying carpet of Euphorbia ‘Dean’s Hybrid’. 
A panorama of the front yard shows the free flowing lawn surrounded by mostly green, fine-textured plants for a calm and naturalistic effect. A few red foliaged plants such as a red Canna lily provide some visual sparks.
Another happy Farfugium japonicum ‘Gigantea’ is doing its thing in the front yard. Looking closely, one can see several more behind the jade table and stools in the background.
This curved plant bed outside the owner’s study hosts a row of everblooming ‘Yellow Gem’ Kangaroo Paws. The palm on the left is a hardy blue Bismarck Palm from Madagascar, just becoming more available in Northern California. 
Colorful yellow Bloodleaf plants and Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ adorn the front entry. With foliage like these, a garden does not need ephemeral flowers to look good.
