The Pebble Mosaic Lotus Garden

About

In 2003 we acquired our home and garden space in the Castro’s lower Swish Alps (20th between Diamond and Eureka). The backyard garden space was a standard

25-foot-wide lot and about 30 feet deep. Compared to the actual square footage of the house, the backyard actually felt more like a postage stamp size.

With the help of Portland mosaic artist Jeffrey Bale we designed a backyard space around a 14-foot-wide, circular pebble mosaic patio. Planter beds were established around the perimeter and a wild circus of plant life evolved and continue to surprise us every season.

Drawn primarily to flowering shrubs and colorful trees, we are also attracted to a dynamic range of ferns, orchids, palms, begonias, daturas, succulents and tree dahlias to name a few. It can be safely described as an explosion of varied flora and fauna.

This garden's estimated size is 750 sq ft.

This Garden Host reports the following Terrain Notes about the garden: There are at least 15 new concrete steps from our garage level to the back garden.

2026 Open Day Date: Saturday, June 13

Open Day Hours: 10am–4pm