FIRM:
Grant & Power Landscaping, Inc.

Grant & Power Landscaping, Inc. is a high-end residential design/build firm established by Gene Grant Jr., RLA in 1978. The firm has four landscape designers on staff and two RLAs. Jan-Gerrit Bouwman, MLA, earned his degree at the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands. The staff also has professionals with degrees in ornamental horticulture, landscape design and construction, business, environmental science and terrestrial ecology, agribusiness, human resources, plant ecology/vegetation science, and plant and soil science.

The firm’s work includes patios, driveways, walks, brick and natural stone, retaining and seatwalls, columns, plantings, native plantings, rain gardens, permeable paving, residential golf greens, outdoor lighting, custom water features, outdoor rooms, outdoor fireplaces, firepits and kitchens. The firm also does residential and commercial maintenance, as well as commercial snowplowing.

The firm uses Dynascape for design work.

All photos by Linda Oyama Bryan

McCalla Residence, Naperville, Ill.

The upper waterfall spills over a landscape of stone, foliage and flower in a picturesque koi pond, creating a natural harmony and soothing space as viewed from the flagstone patio nestled within the landscape. Large outcropping stones break through the once stark concrete retaining wall that scarred the unusable and unkempt landscape to create the waterfall. The wall was required to tame the severe slope of the yard. A flagstone path leads guests from the home through the landscape up to a secondary patio.

The pond is in a drainage swale, so rainwater had to be routed under and around the pond, otherwise the landscape that was created would wash away. A protected alcove provides a panoramic view of the transformed backyard. Long gone are the memories of harsh concrete walls, unusable spaces and a flooded site.

Elson Residence, Lisle, Ill.

The landscape plan began while the home was under construction and included a lavish garden, an outdoor kitchen, fire pit and hot tub. The design and placement of the water feature takes advantage of natural grade changes and flows through patio spaces, ending in a koi pond. A natural stone bridge over the stream connects two separated patio spaces.

Schaefer Residence, Lisle, Ill.

The landscape is a mix of formal hedges and trimmed groundcover with splashes of natural perennials that soften the crisp edges of the path to the upper patio. Adjacent to the upper patio, the slope is planted with lush groundcover to eliminate soil erosion. Other outdoor spaces include a formal courtyard garden framed by trimmed boxwoods encircling a flagstone path and a pool lounging area with a gazebo.

Mills’ Residence à la Mountain Retreat, Inverness, Ill.

A mountain retreat in Colo. served as the vision for this Illinois home. A meandering stream cascades into a pool. The stream flows along the entire front landscape. The placements of natural stone bridges are pathways across the water feature.