Private Garden Retreat

Chapel Hill , North Carolina

This homeowner wanted to update their landscaping and create a backyard garden retreat. Prior to our installation, they had a view of a busy thoroughfare which we successfully screened. We employed a variety of plants including Weeping Alaska Cedar, Southern Magnolias, Canada Hemlock, Burford Holly, Windmill Palm, Weeping Cedar of Lebanon, Weeping Redbud, Rhodendron and Trochodenron.

Residential Screening Project

Chapel Hill , North Carolina

This homeowner needed a privacy screen. We selected mature 14 to 16 foot Emily Bruner Holly. Emily Bruner is a great screening plant, drought-tolerant and adaptable to both shade and sun. After installation, the client had a screen that provided complete privacy.

Before installation...goal to provide privacy...

Cold Hardy Palm Landscape
(Winter Installation)

Durham , North Carolina

This combination planting of Windmill Palm, Cabbage Palm and Yucca Rostrata were installed and photographed after a January 2008 snow store in Durham, North Carolina. These trees are cold hardy even with temperatures in the mid-teens as shown here.

Summer photos coming in a few months...

Mediterranean Style Tropical Landscape

Fayetteville , North Carolina

This landscape installation east of Raleigh was done using Cabbage Palms, Windmill Palms, Pindo Palms and Sago Palms to complement the Mediterranean look and feel of this stunning new home. The owners are from a Mediterranean region and wanted a landscape that reminded them of home. Over 60 palms were used in this landscape installation. Fayetteville is located in Zone 8 which allows for the use of a wider range of palms.

After installation...

After 2 years...

And now some new additions...

Northern Landscape

Charlotte, North Carolina

This Canadian transplant couple who moved to North Carolina wanted a northern landscape experience. Plants used included specimen-quality Greenleaf Japanese Maple, Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar as well as Schipp Laurels for screening. These evergreen cultivars are heat-tolerant and survive our Southern Summers.

Lake House Installation

Lake Hyco (Person County), North Carolina

This installation was done at a small lake in north-central North Carolina near the Virginia border. The owner wanted a tropical feel to his property. Plants included in this Zone 7 landscape include Cabbage Palmetto, Pindo Palm, Windmill Palm, Yucca rostrata and Yucca faxon. Since Zone 7 is marginal for some of these plants, winter protection is provided for 2 months of the year..

Lakefront Home

Lake Gaston, North Carolina-Virginia

This lakefront home, straddling the North Carolina and Virigina border, incorporated cold-hardy desert plants and cold-hardy palms. Plants used in this landscape include Cabbage Palm, Windmill Palm, Sabal Minor, Yucca Faxon, Yucca Rostrata and Prickly Pear Cactus. This is Zone 7, but being on a large lake, the climate is moderated therefore allowing us to incorporate Zone 8 plant material.

Initial installation...

After 2 years...

Desert Landscape

Chatham County, North Carolina

This Chatham household wanted a desert landscape that would require no irrigation. Plants used include Thomson Yucca, Faxon Yucca, Texas Cholla, Prickly Pear cactus, Claret Cup Cactus and Harvard Agave. These plants all have a cold tolerance of about zero degress Fahrenheit.

Hilltop Retreat

Orange County, North Carolina

The owner of this 50 acre hilltop retreat north of Chapel Hill wanted to add a tropical look to his pool landscape. Plants used included our special specimen-size "Jurassic Park Palms" (Cabbage Palm) and Texas Sabal.

Northern Virginia Tropical Landscape

Fairfax County, Virginia

This Northern Virginia homeowner wanted a tropical look for his backyard pool and entertainment area. We incorporated larger sizes of Windmill Palms for increased cold tolerance. This Zone 6B garden will have some winter protection for the first three years.

English Style Southern Garden

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

This Northern Virginia transplant to North Carolina wanted a eclectic mix of plantings in the style of an old English garden. Plants included Weeping White Pine, Kousa Dogwood, Rose of Sharon, Tree Hydrangia, Weeping Red Bud, Windmill Palm, Dwarf Sabal Palm, Yucca Ristrata and agaves. The landscape design accomplished the homeowner's goal of having no lawn. This garden, once established, is quite heat tolerant and low maintenance. Photos here were taken on an mid-August day with the temperature at 104° ... a perfect example of a soothing backyard oasis.

Upstate South Carolina Estate

Gaffney, South Carolina

This upstate South Carolina homeowner used a combination of Windmill Palms, Colorado Blue Spruce, Crape Myrtle, Cabbage Palm, Gardenia and Red Barberry for an updated landscape look. These cold-tolerant palms and heat-tolerant evergreens formed an unique contrast in this garden.

Traditional Southern Landscape

Orange County, North Carolina

This landscape design integrated Northern type evergreens into a traditional Southern landscape. The family who own this property are Northern transplants to central NC and longed for a feel of the Northeast.

Heat-tolerant evergreens were incorporated into this landscape including Serbian Spruce, 'Fat Albert' Blue Spruce, Weeping Alaska Cedar and Deodar Cedar.

Swimming Pool Backyard Oasis

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

These North Carolina physicans dreamed of a tropical oasis with their swimming pool as a focal point. Plants used include Cabbage Palmetto , Windmill Palm, Gardenia, Sable Minor Palm, Needle Palms, and Pindo Palms, as well as Hardy Bananas.

Before installation...

After installation...

Arhitect's Home

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

This up-and-coming North Carolina architect wanted to complement his personal residence which was being entered in an architectural design competition. We utilized Japanese White Spire Birch which were collected in Northwestern North Carolina and relocated to the property.

Backyard Tropical Landscape Design

Greensboro, North Carolina

This landscaping was done to transform the backyard pool area into a tropical landscape using Yucca Rostara, Windmill Palms, Biloxi Crape Myrtles and Gardenias.

Historic Warehouse Landscape

Danville, Virginia

This historic tobacco warehouse was converted to mixed use condos and retail. The client had a very limited planting area with no irrigation. We used a combination of cold hardy desert plants and palms.

Art Gallery Interior Courtyard

Durham, North Carolina

The interior courtyard at a renowned art gallery required us to transport large specimen palm through the gallery to the center space. We selected Cabbage, Windmill and Pindo palms which we were able to move by hand.

Jurassic Cabbage Palm Install

Orange County, North Carolina

This homeowner wanted to make a statement next to his swimming pool. We employed "Jurassic" palms which are visible on the 50 acre property from all angles.

We moved the mature palm specimens from our palm farm to the customer's property by truck and trailer.

Ohio Screening Project

Columbus, Ohio

This Columbus, Ohio, homeowner needed screening on the side of her property to provide privacy. She wanted to use a variety of plants. We used Green Giant, cold hardy Edith Bogue Southern Magnolia, Norway Spruce and collected 12-foot American Boxwoods.

Chapel Hill Northern Garden

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

This north-facing front yard was landscaped using Weeping White Spruce, Japanese Maple, Japanese White Spire Birch, and Himalayan Birch.

Private Residence

Wake Forest, North Carolina

This North Carolina family wanted a secluded family backyard . Plants used include Windmill Palm, Gardenia, Biloxi Crape Myrtle, and Pee Gee tree Hydragena.

Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham, Alabama

Cooper-Payne recently provided a selection of cold-hardy palms to the Birmingham, Alabama zoo for their Giant Tortoise exhibit.  Plants provided included Pindo Palms and triple-trunk Windmill Palms.

Click to visit the Birmingham Zoom website

Apartment Complex

Durham, North Carolina

This apartment complex wanted a different look and feel for their entry way that would attract new residents. With many apartment complexes on this road, an appealing landscape which would attract attention was needed. Plants used included Crape Myrtle, ornamental grasses, Colorado Blue Spruce, Dwarf Sable Palm, Yucca Ristrata, agaves and Windmill Palms. All of these plants, once established, are drought tolerant and low maintenance.

Travel Agency Landscape

Seattle, Washington

This Seattle travel agency wanted a tropical feeling for their landscaping since their customers choose tropical destinations for their vacation travel. Plants used included Windmill Palms, Yuccas, Eunynomus and Red Barberry.