Refuge in the Woods

Above, a Cedar tree clearly marked to ensure it would not be removed or damaged.

Finding a wooded lot to call home near the city is not an easy endeavor these days.  One of our clients just outside of Seattle has been lucky enough to find such a spot and we are helping to nestle their new residence into a clearing while preserving as much of the woods and its understory as possible. 

From the onset, the owners expressed a strong interest in maintaining the wooded feel of their property and with over 300 NW native trees within the five-acre site, this was our goal.

Working closely with the architects, civil engineers, and our project arborist, we sited the new residence and driveway to save the best and healthiest trees.  The placement of the new home location was shifted significantly, and the driveway re-routed from initial plans to take advantage of an existing clearing where trees were dead or declining. 

We designed the driveway to avoid choice trees. Rather than simply slicing a straight line through the property from road to house, we threaded it carefully, taking advantage of the location of compromised trees.

When construction began a couple of months ago, we met on site with the contractors several times to review limits of work and how they will need to remove trees in sections to avoid landing on the surrounding preserved forest. This required much more care than is usual on construction sites as it is much easier to take trees down in one fell swoop. 

The trees that have been removed were chipped and the mulch will be spread for paths and to protect the roots of the remaining trees. 

More stories to come about this refuge in the woods where we have designed a landscape that celebrates the trees and brings the understory right up to the windows. 

Left one of many trees on site – clearly marked to match survey and site plans. Right, locating the drive with the arborist to make sure we are far enough away from a favorite fir tree.