At this Palisades home, rebuilding the garden after the fire is as much about memory as it is about a new landscape. The existing stone paths provide a framework for what comes next, while the planting must respond to the fire safety requirements surrounding the house.

Gravel and boulders will create a quiet foreground near the architecture, giving way to a more layered garden farther out. Among the plants being considered are kaffir lime, galangal, turmeric, and champak—subtle connections to the client’s Thai heritage and to a garden they knew before. These personal touches sit within a broader palette chosen for its texture, resilience, and sense of place.

The design is still evolving, including the precise placement of trees and planting around the entry. Its purpose is already clear: to make room for both the practical demands of rebuilding and the familiar pleasures that make a garden feel like home.