In an era when com-munities are becoming increasingly aware of the limited nature of water resources and landscape professionals are distinguishing between land-scapes that use potable, reclaimed, and brackish water sources, a San Francisco, California Landscape Architect has developed a landscape water management concept that is "water less" without sacrificing design control.

Kimio Kimura's Naturescape Gardens use four elements, which depict essential elements in nature - mountains, water, stones, and plants, symbolically and assymmetrically creating an environment with a sense of harmonious and timeless beauty at a human scale. To provide for continuing water conservation in the mature landscape, only ten- to fifteen-percent of the total landscape area is devoted to plantings and Naturescape trees. Construction photos illustrate how landscape fabric topped with gravel is used in planting areas to minimize evapo-transpiration, augmenting the ability of drip irrigation to reduce water consumption.

To maintain the landscape at a human scale, plant material is strictly maintained. For example, at the Miyako Hotel near Japan Town in San Francisco, California (top photo) and at Kimura's own residence, both plantings and Naturescape trees are kept trimmed to no more than 15 feet in height.

The philosophy of Naturescape Garden designs was developed by world-renowned Landscape Architect Kimio Kimura of San Francisco, California with assistance from Landscape Contractor Chris Cantalini of Pleasanton, California. LASN