Mid-Century Sanctuary

About

A tranquil, verdant oasis, the Norton House centers around a meandering stream that brings life and soothing sound to the landscape. A stone wall built in 1956 defines the sloping garden on one side, with steps leading to the house on the other. The Mid-Century home, almost hidden from the street, reveals itself as you step toward its featured deck.

The stream below the deck is lined with water plants, worn river stones, and moss-covered boulders, sparkling as it trickles over waterfalls, creating a serene, meditative ambiance.

The front of the home is presented by the endurance and eternity of several Japanese black pines. The landscape design complements the “organic architecture” of the Buff, Straub, and Hensman home, merging the home and its surroundings.

A wooden footbridge spans gracefully over the stream, inviting visitors to pause and watch the water glide by. The garden plantings feature vibrant camellias, coast live oaks, perennial flowers, and textured foliage, creating a dynamic, picturesque scene that changes with the seasons. 

This stream-focused garden is more than a display; it is a living, functional ecosystem that provides a tranquil, immersive escape. Frequent visitors include turtles, mallard ducks, and the occasional egret. A third footbridge at the end of the property leads to a more functional area for dining, a conversational firepit, and entertainment, framed by a drought-tolerant natural landscape, redwood and Corten steel fencing, and planters.

This garden’s estimated size is 4,000 square feet.

This Garden Host reports the following Terrain Notes about the garden: This garden features several sets of stairs that must be traversed. Visitors will enter through a side gate. Please use the handrails when descending stairs. Also, there are uneven stone pathways in the garden.

2026 Open Day Date: Sunday, April 19

Open Day Hours: 10–4