Article: Rugged beauty: sturdy foliage holds up to big paws and looks good all year long.(NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE)(Brief Article)

Terry Gardner's backyard in Oakland is as pretty as it is dog-friendly. Evergreen plants stand up to occasional romps from the owner's dog--a big Bouvier des Flandres. And a well-hidden dog run behind the fence at the top of the steps keeps the pooch out of the greenery when the owner isn't home.

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When Gardner first met with landscape designer Richard Sullivan, the goal was to spruce up the unused slope adjacent to a patio while accommodating the dog. Sullivan leveled the top of the slope and installed a lawn, then built stairs of 3-inch-thick, randomly cut chunks of Connecticut bluestone on the base rock. Foliage plants, chosen for ...

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